[nfbmi-talk] auto mark

Fri Nov 23 23:04:00 UTC 2012

Jason raises a good question here: is each state, Michigan included, required to make elections accessible when they are not National elections? Yes! According to the Help America Vote Act, commonly referred to as HAVA, every poling place in America was required to have at least one accessible voting machine by 2006. That is why we have the Auto-Mark in Michigan. Other states selected other kinds of Machines, but the outcome was the same. Every little poling place across the Nation, no matter how small, now has one accessible voting machine. In addition to this, Any voting machine purchased after January 1, 2007 must be accessible. This law applies to every election in every state. Now, michigan appears to be getting around the law by continuing to use paper ballots at its poling places rather than purchasing other accessible machines, but at least the Auto-Marks are there, and the idea of contacting every  county's election official to make sure that training of pole workers  is complete is a great one. 

I also think we should provide some training sessions to our own members and interested blind people. I know that the first time I went to vote here in Kalamazoo, the Auto-mark was there and all set up. Someone had even been trained on how to use it, but I was the first live sole who was going to vote witht the thing. Well it was not set up right, and the headphones were plugged into the wrong port so it did not talk. At first they were not willing to let me touch it, but after half an hour of unsuccessfully trying to make it work, the worker gave up and walked away. At that point I sat down, checked it it out  and switched the headphone jack to another port...what do you know, it worked and I voted. Ever since then I love going to vote. Usually someone tried to be overly helpful in the line, and without exception, another poling worker speaks right up and says "Oh she is fine don't worry about her!"  I love this...being treated like everyone else. That is the power of knowledge and we need to share that knowledge with every blind person in Michigan if we can.

Boone Christine Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 20, 2012, at 5:30 PM, "Jason Meddaugh" <jj at bestmidi.com> wrote:

> I'm happy to help with such an initiative, though I can't guarantee I'll be in Michigan in 2014.
> But it sounds like we have two major parts to the project.
> 1. Organize several demonstrations of accessible voting technology where people can test out the machines and of course we happen to see if they want a free cane or join a chapter while we're there.
> 2. Talk to the county clerks to ensure the machines are accessible and operational. There's 83 counties in Michigan, but if the list was split up over several people, we should be able to talk to all of them. This second part could be started much sooner. And while we're talking to them, we can get a feeler on where we may want to set up demonstrations.
> 
> Finally, a question, I know HAVA requires accessibility for all federal elections. In Kalamazoo at least, all local elections have also been made accessible. Do we have a state law that is mandating this or is that decision made locally?
> 
> 
> Best Regards,
> Jason Meddaugh
> A T Guys
> Your Assistive Technology Experts
> (269) 216-4798
> http://www.ATGuys.com
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <rehahnanimallover at att.net>
> To: <terrydeagle at yahoo.com>; "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 7:51 AM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] auto mark
> 
> 
>> I agree.  That is a very good idea to help get other potential members.
>> 
>> -----Original Message----- From: Terry Eagle
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 7:04 AM
>> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] auto mark
>> 
>> Great information and idea Georgia.  Perhaps we the NFBM can sponsor such a
>> training in Fall of 2014 around the state.  A wonderful way to identify
>> potential members and potential Newsline subscribers too.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Gkitchen
>> Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 1:17 AM
>> To: NFB of Michigan List
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] auto mark
>> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>> Fortunately, I had good luck when I used the voting machine here .  Our
>> Center for Independent Living had a training session and luncheon I went to
>> several years ago. Yes, that would be cool if the nfb could educate
>> folksabout this technology. I like the machine because you can vote
>> privately and shut off the monitor so people cannot watch how you are
>> voting. One can also review  different parts of the ballot.
>> Perhaps we could do that in this area.
>> 
>> I voted on absentee ballot this time . I found out that the ballot is on
>> line so you can read it ahead of time if you wanted to. I was lucky to have
>> a good reader this time. It was my first time voting absentee. My friend had
>> voted that way a few days before I voted so she was familar with the ballot.
>> That does help speed things up.
>> 
>> Georgia Kitchen
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