ID :
54672
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 18:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54672
The shortlink copeid
MANY BLIND CONSTITUENTS HAD DIFFICULTY CASTING VOTES
Jakarta, April 9 (ANTARA) - Many blind voters in Thursday's legislative polls in Jakarta said they had had difficulty ticking ballots although the electoral body had given them ballot papers printed in braille.
"I am afraid other constituents had to wait a long time for me to read my ballot paper," said Nashihin, a blind voter from a home for the blind named "Panti Sosial Bina Netra Cahaya Batin."
Nashihin was one of 18 blind constituents who cast their votes at Polling Station (TPS) No.10 in Cawang, Kramat Jati sub-district, East Jakarta.
The blind voters had to be assisted by poll committee attendants in casting their votes and they had to spend an average of seven minutes in the polling booth.
According to Nashikin, it took time to run his fingers over the braille characters on the ballot paper giving the names and symbols of 44 political parties and tens of legislative candidates.
"It was difficult to choose one of the legislator candidates and to fold the large ballot paper. So I needed another person's help to do it quickly," Nashihin said.
Despite the difficulty in ticking his ballot, Nashihin said, he believed he had chosen the right party and legislative candidate.
Early Thursday (April 9) around 171 million eligible voters were expected to cast their votes for the 38 political parties vying for the 560 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) and six local parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province trying to get 69 seats at the provincial legislative councils (DPRA) and 645 seats at 23 districts/municipals legislative councils. ***1***
D009/
"I am afraid other constituents had to wait a long time for me to read my ballot paper," said Nashihin, a blind voter from a home for the blind named "Panti Sosial Bina Netra Cahaya Batin."
Nashihin was one of 18 blind constituents who cast their votes at Polling Station (TPS) No.10 in Cawang, Kramat Jati sub-district, East Jakarta.
The blind voters had to be assisted by poll committee attendants in casting their votes and they had to spend an average of seven minutes in the polling booth.
According to Nashikin, it took time to run his fingers over the braille characters on the ballot paper giving the names and symbols of 44 political parties and tens of legislative candidates.
"It was difficult to choose one of the legislator candidates and to fold the large ballot paper. So I needed another person's help to do it quickly," Nashihin said.
Despite the difficulty in ticking his ballot, Nashihin said, he believed he had chosen the right party and legislative candidate.
Early Thursday (April 9) around 171 million eligible voters were expected to cast their votes for the 38 political parties vying for the 560 seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) and six local parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province trying to get 69 seats at the provincial legislative councils (DPRA) and 645 seats at 23 districts/municipals legislative councils. ***1***
D009/
