EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Jill LaVine
Organization : | Registrar of Voters, County of Sacramento
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Section Comments
Section : | 2.2.7
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Comment : | ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO THE VOTING PROCESS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. In HAVA, Section 301(a)(B)(i), it allows a state that uses a paper ballot voting system to meet the requirements of notifying a voter if the voter selects more than one candidate for a single office the effect of casting multiple votes for an office, and the opportunity to correct the ballot before it is cast and counted, by establishing a voter education program. I am concerned that an education program that is only a poster telling the voter of his or her rights to ask for a replacement ballot is not sufficient. A voter that is blind visually disabled or those who need assistance in other languages will also need an alternate format. That requirement is not addressed in these guidelines. My youngest son has dyslexia, and he requires someone else to read anything that is very complicated to him. This disability would also benefit from an alternate format. SUGGESTION: Have a CD, tape, or DVD playing at the polling place on election day. For a paper voting system, this alternate format could not only include information on the effect of casting multiple votes for an office, but could also include additional information such as: 1. How to change a vote; 2. How to ask for replacement ballot; 3. How to cast a straight party vote; and, 4. How to cast a write-in vote. [Statements submitted at EAC public hearing, August 23, 2005, Denver]