EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Christina Galindo-Walsh
Organization : | National Disability Rights Network
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Section Comments
Section : | 2.2.7.4.1
Page no. : | 2-39
Line no.: | 10-15
Comment : | Comments/Recommendation: The language of this section stating that no display screen of a voting station shall flicker with a frequency between 2 Hz and 55 Hz Is consistent with the recommended flash rate of 1 Hz to 3 Hz for persons with epilepsy. However, the language should be modified to make clear that a flash rate that exceeds 55 Hz is unacceptable and potentially very dangerous for persons with epilepsy. In addition, even if the flash rate of a display screen is within the recommended range for persons with epilepsy, it can still trigger a photo-convulsive response(seizure) if there are multiple, unsynchronized display screens (or other visual alarms) within a single space. Two or more of these types of fixtures under these conditions could generate a combined flash rate that is outside the recommended parameters. Limiting the number of these types of fixtures, decreasing the flash rate, or synchronizing the flash rates of multiple fixtures within a single space can prevent this from occurring. To increase the overall effectiveness of the display screens, the maximum pulse duration should be two-tenths of one second (0.2 seconds) with a maximum duty cycle of 40 percent. The intensity of the light should be no less 75 candela.