[nagdu] voting nightmare

Fri Oct 24 15:36:01 UTC 2008

A question on accessable voting machines, and my own thoughts. 
1. The accessable voting machines I used were not fun. The problem is
that they use a flat pannel display, and I did not know where I was on
the pannel. The pannel did talk, but I found that it was impossible for
me to determine where I needed to push on the pannel to accomplish what
I wanted to do. 
Either I am an idiot, or I'm using a poorly designed machine. 
The machine I used almost appears as if it was designed by a sighted
person where a flat pannel interface would make sense. 
What I found was that merely adding speech did not help me vote
independently. 
Referring to Stepper's note about where to obtain information on how to
use these machines, this is good information. On the other hand,
shouldn't the usability of the machines be such that I shouldn't have to
look up "special instructions"? 
The intent of these machines is great, I just have never been able to
figure out how to use them. 
What am I missing?   

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Stepper
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:55 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare

Hello Dan.
Dan, as I said in my story, I then instructed this person in the right
way to lead a blind person, by allowing me to grasp his elbow lightly,
and I will follow him.
In regards to the Auto Mark voting you can go to your state I believe
voter web site and there is audio and visual instructions in how to use
this machine. It is really very simple to use.
I also called the national office of the nfb this morning about this
experience.
If you wish to correspond please write to me off list at, in all small
letters at, stepper12 at cableone.net and cable one is spelled out.
Stepper

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Weiner" <dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 5:17 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare

> Hi, guys.
> I'm certainly sorry about your experience and I can empathize as
similar
> things have happened to me.
> But, I'm curious how you found the voting machines.
> Anything I should be careful with when I use one?
>
> Warmest regards,
>
> Dan W. and the happy hounds
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf
> Of Stepper
> Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:25 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: [nagdu] voting nightmare
>
> Hello listers.
> My understanding is that at times we can write about blindness issues 
> having
> nothing to do with guide dogs. so with that understanding I hope this
is
> correct, here goes.
>
> This is Stepper.
>
> Two days ago on the 20th I went to vote early.
> My wife Lynda who is sighted had a ballad sent to the house for her.
> However, I feel that as a blind person that helped with the fight to
make 
> it
> possible for the blind and visually impaired and other disabilities to

> vote
> using the Auto Mark Voting Machine at a cost for our state of
Idaho$5000
> each, and there's 960 machines through out the state, at a total cost
of
> $4800000.
> Well, that's a big deal! So I believe its very important to show the 
> public
> and the law makers that we raised hell for the right to vote, and here
we
> are in the flesh!
>
> That's my stump speech.
>
> We get to the voting place, and we are directed to the lady that
checks to
> see if your on the voting rolls. So far so good.
> That is where the good left, and the bad and the ugly took over.
> After the woman found my name she refused to hand me the paper that
had to
> be signed in two places.
> But she refused to talk to me at all. She kept trying to talk around
me, 
> to
> my wife Lynda. Even when Lynda backed up a few steps.
> I put my hand up palm outward  the world wide sign for "STOP!" not
her. 
> She
> kept trying to talk to my wife.
> There were people backing up behind us. So finally, the lady slid the 
> paper
> over, and I picked it up, and moved down the table. With Lynda's 
> assistance
> I signed the document in the two places needed.
> I than moved to my right a couple steps, where I was checked off as
being
> there. I then moved a little more to my right where the lady was to
hand 
> me
> my "Secret Ballad."
> I started to reach out so she could place it in my hand.
> All of a sudden,  someone  grasps me by my left wrist, turning me
halfway
> around, and clamping my left arm under there right arm. Then this
person,
> takes off dragging me as it were away from the table.
> At the same time I hear a rustling of a large envelope keeping pace
with 
> us.
> I plant both my feet, and said, "What the hell are you doing? Do you
have 
> my
> "Secret Ballad?" "Give me my ballad now!"
> What's the matter with you?" "And stop dragging me!"
> This person turned  out to be a man, a larger man then I am, and I am
6 
> feet
> tall, and weigh 190 pounds.
> He said, "I was going to carry your "Ballad" for you, and take you to
the
> voting machine."
> I then got my ballad back in my hand.
> I told him if you want to help then let me take your arm. It is much 
> better
> to be led, then it is to be dragged.
> My wife stayed out of it, because I never want her jumping in on this 
> stuff.
> I handle it myself. However, she said she saw it all, and even after
all
> these years being married to me she still has times like what I am
trying 
> to
> describe just planed shocks her.
>
> I then was led to the voting machine in a civil manner, where I was to

> vote
> my wonderful "Secret Ballad."
> When this was over, the next morning I was on the phone to commission
for
> the Blind, and posting this experience on the Idaho discussion list,
and
> getting hold of  the head of elections for the disabled. The upshot
was
> excuses, about the pole workers had been running around 600 people a
day
> through the voting sight. He said they had had, "sensitivity
training."
> He did admit, that it seemed everyone on mass forgot there
"sensitivity
> training."
> Before the conversation was over the head of elections for the
disabled 
> put
> in a email to me asking if I would help in traing pole workers state
wide.
> Will this come true? I am not sure, but if I can I will.
>
> But it also could be, "Lip stick on a pig."
>
> By the way almost the same thing happened to me four years ago accept
for
> the ballad.
> In fact, this man asked me if I had written a letter to the news paper

> about
> my experience four years ago? I said, "you got it."
> You can see how well my letter to the paper worked.
>
> In spite of experiences, nothing changes until something changes.
Please,
> everyone that can, please vote publicly if you can, and if you can't
get
> out, just vote.
> We are at the time of the most important election in our life time.
> Remember our right to vote was bought by our young men and women's
blood
> and life time injuries.
>
> Stepper
>
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