[Ohio-Talk] Voting Challenges Today

[Barbara Pierce]

I think I  met the same machine. I managed to figure it all out to cast my votes, but there was no indication about how to finish and close down the machine. I really do think we might want to have some kind of workshop at our convention. It is right before the general election.
Barbara
Barbara Pierce (she, her, hers)
President Emerita
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
440-774-8077
 

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

> On May 3, 2022, at 3:23 PM, Colleen Roth via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Everyone,
> Today I went to our new polling place to vote. The signs indicating Wheelchair Access were not very prominently placed.
> I ended up walking quite a distance and going in the building with a very, very steep step. One of the Poll Workers helped Diana get me into the Building.
> I borrowed one of their chairs to sit down to vote. One of the Poll Workers forgot to note that I was using Audio Visual Ballot. My Ballot had to be cancelled and redone. I was asked if I knew how to use the keypad. I said yes because I did not know that it had been changed.
> I could not get the volume to go up. The worker did that. The Instructions for using keypad were not clear. I had no idea how to get where I needed to be. I tried moving around but just had no idea what I had to do.
> I could not figure out how to cast my ballot. I had to go back to 1970 and have two Poll Workers cast my ballot. I did not want Diana to read it to me. She lives in Lucas County and is not familiar with names on Ballot. I called Wood County Board of Elections and expressed my concerns. I identified myself as the President of the At Large Chapter, NFB of Ohio.
> I called the Secretary of State's Office. They had their Disability Coordinator call me. He said Wood County changed their Machines in 2019. I told him that I had never used them and had voted Absentee during the Pandemic.
> He suggested that I go to Wood County Board of Elections to be taught how to use Machine. I told him it would cost me about $100 round trip to do this. I explained that my friend doesn't drive to BG.
> He suggested that I might like to have an Absentee Ballot sent to my email. I could click on link and then cast my ballot.
> I reminded him of the fact that not all blind people use Computers. I also told him that I am just learning JAWS with a Braille Display.
> I also reminded him that I wanted to use Voting Machine in person. I told him that I did not want to vote by Absentee
> Ballot. He will call me back next week.
> He suggested that he could come to show the Machine to a group. I suggested that maybe we could have him come to our State Convention in Independence. I also gave him the dates. The Machine is made by Dominion and is not Intuitive. I also asked him if blind people had any input in the Counties where it is used.
> There are 12 Counties in Ohio who use this Machine. Three of these Counties are in Northwest Ohio.
> The old Machine had a Telephone Keypad and the Instructions are very clear.
> I kept going between options and ballot but could not figure out how to get to the different races. I did tell him that some people who are very Techie might not have any problems.
> If you are very techie, please count to ten. I had no idea how to navigate Ballot. The Braille is very good but that is all I can say for the Machine.
> I also have a call into Lou Anne Blake from the National Office.
> I will keep everyone updated on this issue.
> Colleen Roth, President;
> At Large Chapter;
> National Federation of the Blind;
> 
> 
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