EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | James McCarthy
Organization : | National Federation of the Blind
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Section Comments
Section : | 2.2.7.2.2.6
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Comment : | At 2.2.7.2.2.6, the proposed VVSG states, “If the normal procedure includes VVPAT [voter-verified paper audit trail], the Acc-VS should provide features that enable voters who are blind to perform this verification. If a state requires the paper record produced by the VVPAT to be the official ballot, then the Acc-VS shall provide features that enable visually impaired voters to review the paper record.” This statement demonstrates the correct understanding of the role the paper record plays in the voting process. In those instances where the paper record is deemed the official counted record, blind voters must have access to it. Otherwise, access is desirable, but not essential. This strikes the correct balance between access and security, and assures that blind voters have access to the official ballot of record. I am pleased to say that the provisions of the VVSG that address access to the voting process for blind voters clearly support the intent of HAVA. However, the NFB cautions against diluting the VVPAT requirements. States can choose whether to use VVPAT, but those that elect to do so must be required to make it accessible in every instance where it constitutes the official record.