-
Oct 18, 2005 7:56 pm US/Pacific
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
New Machine Available For Voters With Disabilities
by Marcy Valenzuela
SACRAMENTO (CBS 13) ―
There could be something else drawing voters to the polls - a new voting machine. It's designed to give people with disabilities better access while maintaining voter privacy.
As Americans, it's one of our most basic rights. But talk to anyone with a disability and they'll tell you, voting has never been easy.
"I could never get into the booths. It was just awkward", says Marcie Harrington.
Marcie Harrington works around the limits of her wheelchair by voting absentee. But come November 8th, heading to the polls will be a more viable option, thanks to a voter assist terminal called "Auto Mark".
"This will allow voters with disabilities to vote independantly and privately", says Sacramento County Registrar of Voters Jill Lavine.
The optical scan voting system allows voters to insert their ballot and use either a touch screen or headset and keyboard to make their selections. People with vision problems can adjust the contrast, make the font larger, or simply take audio cues in a language of their choice.
"Disabilities, shaky hands, people that have reading difficulties, the ballot will be read to them", says Lavine.
And once the voter verifies his or her selections, the marked ballot is printed and placed in a secrecy sleeve. It's a technology a long time coming that meet requirements set by the "Help America Vote Act". There will be an "Auto Mark" terminal in every polling place in Sacramento County, just in time for the special election.
"I think it's great, especially if it's accountable, like there's a paper receipt that you can have and things like that. I think it's great", says Harrington.
So far, only two counties are rolling out these new "Auto Mark" machines. Sacramento county will have 419. Contra Costa County is getting 100.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)