[NFBMT] Voting

[d m gina]

This morning we went to the court house to vote.
I really like the new machine.
Easy to work, you held the controller.
It was on a cord that looked like a phone cord from the receiver to the phone.
Glad we got that behind us.
A gentleman tried to tell me I needed to go somewhere else to vote.
I stayed with him and called Jim.
Then the guy took me to the rite room.
It was the metra he wanted me to go to.
Dar
Original message:
> Hi All,

> I am trying to use the Secretary of State's electronic voting system for the
> second time.  In theory, this system lets a voter with a disability go to
> the website, apply for an electronic ballot, vote online, and return the
> ballot through the mail or by dropping the ballot off at a ballot collection
> point.  Most Montana counties are voting by mail only, and this electronic
> option is an important one.  However, one can also take your ballot to the
> elections office and use the voting machine, or one can use a human
> reader/scribe to complete the mail ballot.

> So far, the electronic option is going great for me.  There is now a link on
> the SOS home page for voting by this method.  I completed the steps to apply
> for the option, and I received the e-mail with a PIN and link to the online
> voting system.  I'll let you know how the rest of the process goes.

> One huge barrier for blind voters is that the electronic voting system
> requires one to print the ballot, to print the secrecy envelope, and to
> print the mailing envelope.  Many blind people don't have printers at home,
> and those of us who do often have to rely on a sighted assistant to complete
> the printing.  There exist other methods of voting online that do not
> require printing, and the National Federation of the Blind of Montana is
> doing our best to get Montana to adopt the better technology.

> It would be terrific if others would try this electronic system.  If you do,
> please give me a shout.  We need more evidence of well or poorly it goes.
> If you cannot make the electronic method work for you, one can always resort
> to the other options mentioned above.  Anyhow, please let me know if you are
> voting with the electronic method.

> Best!


> Jim Marks
> President
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana
> president at nfbofmt.org
> (406) 438-1421
> www.nfbofmt.org

> You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.



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