By Paul Kiwuuwa

The Electoral Commission (EC) is to issue special ballot papers for the blind, starting with the 2016 general elections, the secretary to the commission, Sam Rwakoojo, has said.

Appearing before the committee for human rights Thursday, Rwakoojo said the ballot papers for the visually-impaired will apply at all levels of elections country wide.

“The special ballot called a ‘tactical paper’ will involve codes for identifying pictures and the names of candidates on the paper. The visually-impaired will feel the code by touching the ballot paper, which has been inscribed in form of brail for easy identification of the candidates,” Rwakoojo said.

Rwakoojo, together with commissioners Tom Buruku, Steven Ongaria and Dr. Jenny Okello, appeared before the committee to answer queries arising from the public that the EC does not cater for people with disabilities during elections.

The officer in charge of special interest groups at the EC, Stuart Tamale, said: “The Electoral Commission has done this to enable it to organise free and fair elections for all the voters.