EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Jim Dickson
Organization : | American Assoc. of People With Disabilities (AAPD)
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Section Comments
Section : | 2.2.7.1.2.2.6
Page no. : |
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Comment : | Standard 2.2.7.1.2.2.6 may require appropriate accessibility (both large print and audio output), however the wording is unclear. The second sentence limits its application to situations in which a state requires a VVPAT to be an official ballot. Election officials at more than just the state level could require or allow the paper ballot to be the official vote record. The standard must make it clear that if the paper ballot is or can be the official vote of record it MUST be accessible to voters who are blind and those with low vision. It is unclear why this second sentence was added to a standard that is limited to blind voters when the language applies it to "visually impaired voters" which includes all types of vision disabilities. Important Note: Making "optical aids" available at a polling place is NOT an appropriate accessibility solution and it cannot be used in place of electronic output of large print, high contrast text. Non-electronic magnifiers must be matched to an individual's vision limitations, their visual tracking skills, and their personal refractive lens use. A polling place cannot possibly have available the range of optical aids that would be necessary to ensure appropriate accessibility and it is inappropriate to suggest a polling place use that approach to delivering accessibility.