[Colorado-talk] Access to Voting Problems

[Curtis Chong]

Greetings all:

 

On Saturday, November 4, Peggy Chong and I went to our polling place to
vote. While I myself was able to mark and print the ballot using the
accessible equipment, Peggy's system crashed right when she activated the
ballot printing function. We worked with the poll workers to address the
problem, and at least three calls were made to the technical support folks.
Peggy had to go through the ballot no less than three times, and after the
third attempt, the ballot was finally printed. In all, the process took
almost two hours and a good deal of persistence on Peggy's part to exercise
her right to vote independently. The poll workers were extremely helpful and
supportive, but the technology itself clearly placed a stumbling block in
Peggy's path.

 

Blind voters should not have to spend so much time fooling with the
technology to do what everybody else takes for granted-that is, exercise
their right to vote using a completely secret ballot.

 

Cordially,

 

Curtis Chong

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dan
Burke via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2018 9:02 AM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>; Blake, Lou Ann <LBlake at nfb.org>
Subject: [Colorado-talk] Access to Voting Problems

 

Greetings all -

 

It's the day before election day 2018 and we have a number of blind

members who have experienced barriers in accessible, private

independent voting in the past week.  Julie and I, for example, were

unable even to get to the ballot on the electronic voting machines

last week.  After 45 minutes and several calls to the county election

help desk, we decided that we would come back and try again rather

than having our votes recorded by the poll workers.  That was our

choice, and we have yet to cast our ballots.

 

With reports from other blind voters of their difficulties, we need

some feedback from everyone.  Please contact me if you have voted with

the electronic voting system.  Tell me if the voting machine had

problems, if the poll worker called for technical support, and if you

ultimately voted with the machine or with a poll worker marking your

ballot.  Also send me a note if you voted and had no difficulty with

the voting machine.  I also want to know where you voted and what

county.  Right now, everybody I know who had difficulty were in

Arapahoe County, but since this system is used across the state we're

worried that others have also had difficulties.

 

I'm sure all on the list would appreciate it if not all of you replied

on the list.  Please feel free to e-mail me at burke.dall at gmail.com,

or call my cell, which is listed in the signature below.

 

The right to cast a private and independent vote is a human right.  We

obviously have some work to do to protect our rights.

 

Best,

Dan

 

 

-- 

Dan Burke

President, NFB of Denver

 

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546

Twitter:  @DallDonal

 

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