The Edo Deaf Association has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the use of electronic voting technology (e-voting) to conduct future elections.
Mr Kingsley Eromosele, the Chairman of the association in the state, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Wednesday via text messaging.
Eromosele, while expressing concern over the participation of deaf people in the February 25 and March 18 general elections, said most deaf voters could not access polling units.
He said that the deployment of e-voting, apart from the benefits of reducing the cost of holding elections, could also provide better access to voters with disabilities.
“I really wish that INEC will use e-voting. Some deaf voters, who want to exercise their franchise cannot find polling units because of lack of assistive devices.
“E-voting is voting that uses electronic methods to either help or take care of casting and counting ballots,” he said.
Eromosele explained that the association must liaise with INEC’s Persons with Disabilities Desk Officers (PWDs) in Edo to increase their participation in the March 18 election.
“Some deaf people contacted the association about difficulties accessing polling units during the February 25 election.
“So, we reached the INEC PWD Desk Officer, and a link was sent to us where deaf voters can click to find their polling unit.
“We can use that link to train some of us on how to find polling centers during the March 18 election,” the chairman said.
However, he noted that members of the association can vote in the state House of Assembly elections, better than the Presidential and National Assembly elections because of the support of INEC.
He further tasked the electoral body on the provision of sign language interpreters as well as EC40H forms for persons with disabilities during the next polls.