More than 4,000 blind people in Puerto Rico will be able to vote by telephone for the first time in November's territorial elections.

The nearly US$200,000 project allows the blind to cast votes for governor, mayor and scores of legislators on November 4.

Elections commissioner Ramón Gomez says the system was used experimentally during the presidential primaries in June, though Puerto Ricans do not vote in the final US presidential race.

Blind voters previously had to have a companion enter the booth with them to cast the vote on their behalf.

Ismael Figueroa of Puerto Rico's Office of People with Disabilities says he finally will be able to cast a secret vote. In his words, "This time, the vote is really mine."

Gomez made the announcement on Wednesday.

- AP