The Union Election Commission (UEC) is seeking assistance to make voting more convenient for people with disabilities, the country’s poll chief told The Myanmar Times.

U Hla Thein, chair of UEC, said that while there has been improvement in the polling system that has made voting more convenient for the disabled, much remains to be done.

He cited the need to have polling booths dedicated for the disabled.

“We need all the help that we can get, especially from international donors,” he said. “We need wheelchairs so we can bring the physically disabled voters to the polling booth. We also need facilities for the blind people, to make it easier for them to vote. The government cannot provide these kinds of facilities at this time. “

U Hla Thein said that while under the law, the rights of the disabled to participate in political exercises are guaranteed and protected, these can still be improved.

The UEC already announced seven areas where by-elections will be held later this year.

According to the 2014 Myanmar census, 4.6 percent of the country’s population or roughly 2,368,300 people live with a disability.