[nfb-db] Your input on accessible voting is needed!

Wed Nov 13 12:34:05 UTC 2013

Hello Janice, 

One of the reasons why the ballot get stuck is that some people including the poll worker does not know that the bottom has a tear off that must be removed before inserting the ballot. It is frustrating when a person knows how it is suppose to work but the worker does not. It then become a tug a war. It will be nice if they make sure everyone is properly trained so that when a person who is newlyface with a challenge can vote without a problem.
Delcenia
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Janice Toothman 
  To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Your input on accessible voting is needed!

  Every year I go and the card that they insert does not work.  It does not load properly.  They volume is too low and they do not have braille output.  Plus, it is really annoying when you do not want to vote for a particular position that you have to wade through all the candidates and at the end it prompts you that you have under elected.  It makes the process extremely time-consuming; 45 minutes.  It is very frustrating when you know who you want to vote for but have to sort your way through the ballot.
  Janice

  On 11/12/2013 3:08 PM, DELCINA M BROWN wrote:

    Hello everyone, 

    First, with the audio, when I sit down and load the machine with the ballot I have to wait till it is done loadin meanwhile it takes some time before I can hear what it is saying. As it is loading I have to keep pressing the up button on the volume and when it comes up it is still too low. It does not help that the machine is not located in a good spot. They say that the machine should be facing the wall that way my back is to  the wall. In other words it should not be anything between me and the wall. Yes, I am able to turn the screen off so that no one can see it. However it is still sitting out in the open  and I really do not have privacy. Also,  the background noise does not help. Las time I had the poll workers around me wanting to help they did not realize they are not helping when they stand behind me and hold a conversation while I am voting. Each poll siste is suppose to be checked out the night before election. I do not  believe they are following through with this. I say this because I have went to vote first thing in the morning at 7:00 a.m. and the machine is not working correctly. Each poll site is to have a poll worker (I forget the proper title) that is suppose to be trained on how to use the machine. Most of them do not know how to use the machine. 

    best regards
    Delcenia

      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Blake, Lou Ann 
      To: 'nfb-db at nfbnet.org' 
      Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 8:48 AM
      Subject: [nfb-db] Your input on accessible voting is needed!

      Dear List Members:

      As one of the activities the National Federation of the Blind is conducting under our 2013-2014 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we are hosting a focus group of deaf-blind voters. The purpose of this focus group is to learn from deaf-blind individuals about the types of barriers they currently face in casting a private and independent ballot, and about the types of personal access technology used by the deaf-blind that could remove these barriers. This information will be provided to voting technology researchers and developers during a seminar hosted by the NFB in December 2013.

      The focus group will be conducted via the NFB deaf-blind listserv. A total of four questions will be posted to the list one at a time for discussion and input from the list members. 

      The first question for the focus group is: 

      1.     What are the barriers you currently face that prevent you or make it difficult for you to cast a private and independent ballot?

      Please respond to this question by 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, November 14, 2013. The second question for the focus group will be posted to the list on Thursday, November 14.

      Thank you in advance for your participation in this important discussion! If you have any questions, please contact:

                Lou Ann Blake, HAVA Project Manager

                National Federation of the Blind

                lblake at nfb.org

                410-659-9314, ext. 2221.

      Take the stress out of this year's holiday shopping with NFB's Bid for Equality national online auction: Black Friday, Nov. 29, to Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3. View our must-have donations and register to make your Bid for Equality. The future is in your bid! 

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