[nagdu] voting nightmare

Stepper stepper12 at cableone.net
Fri Oct 24 20:08:14 UTC 2008


Hi again, stepper here.
My machine has a Braille key pad, and the audio explained each step every 
step of the way. There was also large screen text if needed, or a way to 
vote by blowing or sucking on a straw.
This machine is called the Auto Mark.
Stepper
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pickrell, Rebecca M." <Rebecca.Pickrell at ngc.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] voting nightmare


>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
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/dcwein%40dcwein.c
> nc.n
>> et
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/stepper12%40cable
> one.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/rebecca.pickrell%
> 40ngc.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/stepper12%40cableone.net 





More information about the NAGDU mailing list