EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Christina Galindo-Walsh
Organization : | National Disability Rights Network
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
General Comments
Comment : | The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), formerly the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc. (NAPAS), is the voluntary membership organization for the nationwide system of Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies. Located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the federal territories, the P&As are mandated under various federal statutes to provide legal representation and related advocacy services on behalf of all persons with disabilities in a variety of settings. In the voting context, under Section 291 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), P&As are to "ensure the full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places.,,1 HAVA tasks the P&As with ensuring that individuals with disabilities have access to the vote. We thank the Commission for issuing the proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG) and soliciting input from the public on the draft. The VVSG are critical in ensuring accessibility In future elections for voters with disabilities. Although the guidelines are voluntary, most states have adopted the current voluntary standards and are likely to do so with these new guidelines. Moreover, machine manufacturers will develop new voting systems with the guidelines in mind, Therefore, the guidelines are likely to provide the blueprint for the next generation of voting systems. It is because of this that NDRN is concerned about several provisions in the proposed guidelines that fail to ensure the access clearly mandated by HAVA. NDRN urges this Commission to carefully examine the guidelines to ensure that the guidelines do not undermine the important and needed protections HA V A affords voters with disabilities.