Jorhat, Feb. 25: The visually impaired in Assam will literally feel their right to franchise with their fingers, with the Election Commission arranging for Braille-inscribed electronic voting machines for this year’s Assembly elections.

Earlier, the visually challenged voters used to cast their votes guided by an escort to the press the right button on the EVM.

But this time, the voter can directly press the button of his choice on the EVM by identifying the serial number that will be inscribed beside each button.

A Braille voter can walk to the machine by himself, unaccompanied by any escort to cast his vote.

A source said the new batch of EVMs manufactured last year, have a number of features that have made them tamperproof and also have Braille inscriptions.

The visually impaired voter, however, will have to be told the serial number of the political parties or candidates by the person accompanying him or by the poll personnel at the booth.

Despite this little aid, the new system will make the challenged voters feel more self-sufficient and reduce his dependence on a companion to exercise their franchise.

The principal of Guwahati Blind High School, Bhaben Barman, said: “It is a positive step initiated that is expected to raise the confidence of the visually challenged people.”

Assam chief electoral officer Hemanta Narzary told The Telegraph that the aim of introducing the new provision was to let the visually challenged people feel more independent.

Those who were not Braille literate, however, will have to cast their votes with the assistance of an escort.

Narzary said the entire stock of new updated EVMs — with the Braille-inscription — required for the ensuing elections have arrived in the state.

Though the total number of polling centres in the state is 23,813, an additional 25 per cent of the total requirement of EVMs in the state has been brought in to meet any exigencies.