[Ohio-Talk] It is done.

[Richard Payne]

The act of voting in an election can be a 

 

complicated and time-consuming process for anyone. It 

 

involves getting to the polling place, signing in, 

 

understanding and responding to any directions given by 

 

a poll worker, comprehending the voting technology and 

 

how to use it (be it paper ballot, lever machine, 

 

computerized voting machine, etc.), making selections on 

 

a ballot, verifying those selections, and casting 

 

the ballot. For blind members of the 

 

community, the complications that may arise during the 

 

voting process are magnified and new obstacles are often

 

introduced. While there are many sources of guidelines 

 

for the design of accessible systems, there is scant 

 

empirical literature that specifically addresses the needs 

 

of visually impaired voters. Field observations can be a 

 

useful source of data in this regard.

 

Thomas Mundy Peterson (October 6, 1824 - February 4, 1904) of
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_Amboy,_New_Jersey> Perth Amboy, New
Jersey was the first  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American>
African-American to  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vote> vote in an
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election> election under the just-enacted
provisions of the
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Cons
titution> 15th Amendment to the
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution> United States
Constitution. His vote was cast on March 31, 1870.

 

I cannot even compare my voting experiences with Mr. Peterson , but the
feeling that I felt today after going to the pole where last year it was
truly a long hour of education and to be able to cast my vote with ease was
very exhilarating .

 

I did not post to the list last year about the problems that occurred in the
voting process but that staff was not prepared and did not have a clue the
board of elections also had a lack of understanding. That year they got the
right one I stood in line, educated the supervisor at that location, and had
them to call the district supervisor.

 

Well it is a fact that when I arrived today ready to stand up for my rights
and they were ready gave me a since of accomplishment and that it was up to
us to do our parts.

They were ready and it even seem like the impression from last year stood
out in the minds of the workers. I did think it was a little funny when one
of the workers stood behind me and said she wanted to with this because she
had never witnessed a blind person voting. They figured out that the screen
could be turned off when I hit the button and cast my vote. Thanks for
reading.

 

 

Richard Payne,  President

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

937/829/3368

 <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> Rchpay7 at gmail.com

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.