Constitutional Provisions
Article 326
- Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage;
- Every citizen of India not less than eighteen years of age on such date
as may be fixed in that behalf by law and is not otherwise
disqualified... shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any
such election
Source: ICHRL
UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability
Article 29 - Participation in political and public life
States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political
rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others,
and shall undertake:
a) To ensure that persons with
disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and
public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely
chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons
with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by:
(i)
Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are
appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use;
(ii)
Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret
ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation, and to
stand for elections, to effectively hold office and perform all public
functions at all levels of government, facilitating the use of
assistive and new technologies where appropriate;
(iii)
Guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with
disabilities as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their
request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice;
b) To promote actively an environment in which persons
with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct
of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with
others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including:
(i) Participation in
non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the
public and political life of the country, and in the activities and
administration of political parties;
(ii) Forming and joining
organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with
disabilities at international, national, regional and local levels.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was ratified by India in October 2007 legally supports:
- The right to vote (article 29)
- The right for recognition before the law (article 12)
- The right to access to information (article 21)
- The right to freedom of expression and opinion (article 21)
- The right to accessibility (article 9)
Source: http://www.disabilityvotescount.eu/en/index.php (European Disability From retrieved on 29th March 2009)
