With self-declaration of address, transgenders can get voting right

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5

The Election Commission has accepted the transgender community’s demand that self-declaration of a residential proof should be considered for giving them the voting right.

Under the “Every eligible person should be voter” programme, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, S Karuna Raju on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of transgenders of the state.

Considering Mahant Mohini’s point as valid that members of the transgender society have no permanent address thus they have no proof of residence so they can’t register themselves in the electoral rolls, the CEO said a certificate of the concerned dera or a self-declaration form of the person could be considered as proof. “I will shortly write a letter to all Deputy Commissioners of the state so that every eligible member of the transgender community becomes a voter in the continuous updation process for special summary review of electoral rolls,” he said. The meeting was also attended by Dhananjay Chauhan, general secretary, Mangal Mukhi Transgender Welfare Society, Chandigarh.

Dr Raju urged the leaders to encourage people of their community to become voters and exercise their constitutional right and the Election Commission would extend every kind of help in this endeavour. He appealed to Mohini Mahant, leader of Mansa Foundation Welfare Society and the first transgender member of National Lok Adalat, to motivate all members of the transgender society to cast their vote.