Elderly and blind voters trained for election

Wed, 07/01/2009 12:16 PM  |  Bali

DENPASAR: Around 93 blind and 33 elderly people took part in a simulated vote, to prepare them for the July 8 presidential election.

The simulation was organized by the Bali General Elections Commission (KPUD) at Werdha Wana Seraya Nursing Home in Kesiman Kertalangu village, Denpasar on Tuesday.

The half-day activity was held to ensure disabled and elderly voters were well equipped to vote in the upcoming election.

"A visually impaired person may need one minute to vote, while elderly people may need 45 seconds," explained Udi Prayudi from the KPUD.

Prayudi said that elderly people were permitted to be accompanied by a helper if necessary.

There will be 5,099 units of special equipment to help blind people vote on election day , Prayudi said.

"We do this *simulation* and preparation to prevent eligible persons from failing to vote," he said adding that 23 percent of 2,667,065 eligible voters in Bali failed to vote in the April 9 legislative elections because of the inaccurate and chaotic voting list system and other reasons. -JP

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