EAC - Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

Name : | Day Al-Mohamed
Organization : | The American Council of the Blind
Post Date : | 9/30/2005
Section Comments
Section : | 2.2.7.1.2.2.3
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Comment : | ACB believes that voter comprehension and control of the audio system is tantamount to the success of this alternative system for voting. ACB recommends elimination of 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.8 and 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.9. The sections focus more on the process of the production of the speech and not necessarily on the desired result. ACB suggests the following language as replacements: For Section 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.8 - “The audio system shall be able to reproduce speech in a manner that is clear and intelligible to the general public.” The goal of the system originally was that the audio system be used effectively. This would ensure that all voters who might benefit from its use would do so, not just those who are familiar with interacting with systems that use such audio or speech systems. For Section 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.9 – “The audio system shall enable voters to control, within reasonable limits, the rate of speech, without distortion that would violate the requirement for intelligibility in 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.8.” In addition ACB would like to echo the recommendation made by a number of audio experts from the TRACE Center for a Section 2.2.7.1.2.2.3.10 that states: “The audio system shall be able to reproduce candidates' names as they are normally pronounced.” No matter how the audio is produced it is critical that names be recognizable, especially to those who are only used to hearing those names, not only for individuals who are visually impaired, but also those with poor literacy skills. Regardless of how the audio is produced ACB believes that the heart of this Section is the production of clearly enunciated, intelligible speech.