YANGON: Test voting was conducted using specially designed voting machines equipped with Braille for blind and visually impaired voters.
Union Election Commission (UEC) member Than Aung Kyaw, who oversees Mandalay Region, attended the awareness session and practical test voting event held on 22 November at the New Life School for the Blind in Dhammapala Village, Meiktila Township. The event aimed to ensure that persons with disabilities can cast their ballots independently using voting machines designed with Braille features.
At the ceremony, Than Aung Kyaw said that enabling persons with disabilities—who are also citizens—to fully exercise their electoral rights is a fundamental democratic process that benefits the entire disability community.
He explained that election laws guarantee full rights for disabled voters, including ensuring their inclusion in voter lists, supporting smooth and convenient voting at polling stations, and allowing them to receive assistance from a helper of their choice if needed. He added that the event was part of efforts to ensure that blind voters can cast their ballots independently using Braille-equipped voting machines.
Next, Aung Kaung Myat, Mandalay Region representative from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, expressed appreciation for creating opportunities for blind voters to cast their votes independently.
Meiktila District election officer Khaing Khaing Nwe provided explanations on measures taken to support independent voting for persons with disabilities and on the use of Myanmar electronic voting machines equipped with Braille for test voting. Thirty blind participants from the New Life and Shesaung Schools for the Blind took part in the practical test.
The event was attended by officials from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, the Meiktila District Administrator and relevant officials, chairpersons and members of district and township sub-commissions, representatives from the Meiktila District Department of Social Welfare, principals and teachers from the New Life and Shesaung blind schools, and students.
During the ceremony, financial assistance was also provided by UEC members, the district administrator, and other officials.
Afterward, UEC members and officials met with trainees from the training programme for polling station heads, deputy heads, and ward/village tract sub-commissions held at Basic Education High School No.1 in Meiktila.
They also inspected the publicly posted second-round voter lists at ward and village tract sub-commission offices within Meiktila Township. - Eleven Media/ANN
