[Mt-blind] Mt-blind Digest, Vol 8, Issue 16

Al Tompkins tompkinsplace at earthlink.net
Tue Feb 20 21:19:20 CST 2007


Hi to all:
Just to let you know - both Myrle and I voted in the primary and general
elections using the Automark.  I have 20/20 vision and no physical
limitations so I did it as a matter of choice to find out how well it
worked.  We were both pleased with this equipment and the fact that it
produced  paper ballots to be counted just like all the other voters'
ballots.  We did notice that the election judges weren't real confident
about using this new equipment but time will help that issue.
Al & Myrle Tompkins


> [Original Message]
> From: <mt-blind-request at nfbnet.org>
> To: <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Date: 2/17/2007 10:43:12 AM
> Subject: Mt-blind Digest, Vol 8, Issue 16
>
> Send Mt-blind mailing list submissions to
> 	mt-blind at nfbnet.org
>
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>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Mt-blind digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: VOTING MACHINES (James Aldrich)
>    2. Re: VOTING MACHINES (Dan Burke)
>    3. Re: VOTING  MACHINES (Edward C Robbins)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:25:15 -0700
> From: "James Aldrich" <jkaldrich at qwest.net>
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID: <001301c75243$3e28dba0$6a2da8c0 at aldrich1bf20d9>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hello all,
>
> Now that I have been through a first reading of this report, I'd say our 
> Automark machines were treated quite favorably as opposed to other
systems. 
> It certainly is challenging to meet the needs of so many with various 
> challenges to voting.  I of course will be reading this more carefully in 
> the future.  I certainly hope we here in Montana can continue the good 
> service we have had with our Automark machines despite occasional
problems 
> and lack of training which can occur with election officials.  I think we 
> certainly are on the right track out here.
>
> Jim Aldrich
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "James Aldrich" <jkaldrich at qwest.net>
> To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 7:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
>
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> Has someone within the NFB done an analysis of this report?  Is it in the
> Monitor? If not, where can we get an analysis to this report?  Do you
think
> this report could cause us problems here in Montana and we'd need to
> preserve what we have thus far?
>
> Thanks much!
>
> Jim Aldrich
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dan Burke" <burke.dall at gmail.com>
> To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 4:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
>
>
> A couple of comments:
>
>
> *  All Montana voting places used the same machines -- the Automark.
> This because HAVA discussions began under Bob Brown when he was
> Secretary of State in Montana, and Myrle Tompkins served on the
> committee that discussed and reviewed various machines.
>
> *  Not all machines out there print ballots, as does the Automark.
>
> *  The Automark has nonvisual access, in compliance with HAVA, and
> access for touch screen and use of other accessibility devices, such
> as "puff-and-sip" switches for folks with quadreplegia.  This is in
> contrast to items mentioned in the report Jerry forwarded.
>
> *  The article mentions a voting machine that is not used in Montana,
> but it illustrates some of the problems and frustrations other blind
> voters had this last election.
>
> *  In some states and locations, the votes of blind citizens and other
> citizens were segregated from the votes of everyone else because they
> did not have voting machines that produced a printed ballot when
> finished, as the Automark Montana uses does.
>
> *  Montana had an Automark in every local poll, though I'm told that
> the Missoula County Courthouse didn't have one!
>
> Finally, on the matter of PDF documents, Joy is completely right --
> PDF files can be read by screen readers only if they are constructed
> correctly in the first place.  Ironically, I did go to look at the
> Oregon elections web site to read about their mail ballot.  I found no
> mention of accessibility, blind voters or disability at all.  So, I
> tried to open the voters' manual, which was a PDF.  I found it to be
> inaccessible.  Not much encouragement there!
>
>
> Dan
>
>
>
> On 2/16/07, James Aldrich <jkaldrich at qwest.net> wrote:
> > Hello Jerry and list,
> >
> > I was able to find and read this report with my screen reader.  I would
> > think both major screen readers could read this report so long as one
has
> > an
> > up to date copy of the adobe reader installed.  One must have the Adobe
> > Reader 7.0 or higher installed in their PC.
> >
> > I for one would like a more balanced report than this one.  They seem to
> > be
> > relying on the opinion of one person's electronic genius  No doubt Mr.
> > Ronyon's achievements were notable in their time but his Audapter speech
> > system has gone the way of the dinosaur since it was used with Dos
speech
> > access systems.  Some of those programs which were used with his system
> > have
> > gone that way as well with the exception of today's leading screen
> > readers.
> > I think he has gone in a different direction when going into medical
> > access
> > fields.  I for one would want to hear from someone who is currently in
the
> > speech access field to get a broader report of what is actually
happening!
> >
> > I think too the organizations represented are pushing their agenda and
> > interests more than they are reflecting our concerns.  Some want these
> > machines to be everything to everybody and this isn't possible!  We use
> > the
> > Automark machines here so I'll be interested in reading what that report
> > has
> > to say.  I of course would say people should be fluent in English before
> > they can have the right to vote but that's my not so humble politically
> > incorrect opinion.  Is our legislature taking this report seriously?  If
> > so,
> > I have some writing to do!  Who should I be writing to?
> >
> > I of course need to take more time to read this report but that's what
> > jumped out at me thus far!
> >
> > Thanks for the link!
> >
> > Jim Aldrich
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jerry Hutch" <modrepro at mt.net>
> > To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 1:25 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> >
> >
> > I am not sure if this would help but the full text of this report can be
> > found at the following link.  The problem is that the report is
> > presented as a .pdf file.  Most screen readers can can not read .pdf
> > files.
> >
> > Here is the link to the reprt.  http://www.voteraction.org/   It is the
> > first report listed there and there is a hypertext link after the  brief
> > description that says "read  report here"  click on that link and the
> > .pdf file will come up
> >
> >
> >
> >  dmgina wrote:
> >
> > >Hi there,
> > >I would keep what we are using.
> > >We can't let anything become an excuse for us not to keep voting.
> > >If machines need to be fixed so be it.
> > >It wouldn't be the first machine that broke.
> > >We know that nothing was on the machine while we were voting.
> > >The votes went threw and were counted with the rest when counting was
> > >being
> > >added up for the day.
> > >I am not sure why this article is so important.
> > >At first, the first time, the machine didn't do the whole ballad.
> > >But the second time it worked like a charm.
> > >Keep encouraging blind folks to vote.
> > >It is a step that is a thrill the first time it happens.
> > >
> > >
> > >--Dar
> > >wishing a
> > >backTpack
> > >call me at
> > >406-259-1124
> > >Every Saint has a past,
> > >Every sinner has a future ,
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Jerry Hutch" <modrepro at mt.net>
> > >To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > >Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 12:47 PM
> > >Subject: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>Dan and the list,
> > >>
> > >>Here is a message about voting machines and their problems that I have
> > >>received by email.  This is for your information.
> > >>
> > >>OpEd News, PA, USA
> > >>Wednesday, February 14, 2007
> > >>
> > >>"Daily Voting News" For February 14, 2007
> > >>
> > >>By JGideon
> > >>John Gideon of VotersUnite.org
> > >>
> > >>According to a new report issued by VoterAction and Demos, "Direct
> > >>Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines, once considered essential
to
> > >>ensuring private and independent voting booth access for voters with
> > >>disabilities, often do not work as promised, according to a new report
> > >>published today.
> > >>
> > >>Authored by access technology expert Noel Runyan and published by
> > >>election
> > >>reform groups Demos and Voter Action, "Improving Access to Voting: A
> > >>Report on the Technology for Accessible Voting Systems" shows that,
due
> > >>to
> > >>inadequate or malfunctioning voting machines, voters with disabilities
> > >>are
> > >>frequently forced to ask for assistance or compromise the privacy of
> > >>their
> > >>vote- severe violations of federal disability accommodation
> > >>requirements.
> > >>
> > >>The report details significant difficulties for voters with
> > >>disabilities,
> > >>including: the lack of a controllable interface for those who are
unable
> > >>to use touch screens or tactile key inputs; inadequate audio access
> > >>features for people with visual or cognitive impairments, with
dyslexia,
> > >>or with severe motor-impairments; and lack of privacy curtains to
> > >>prevent
> > >>others from reading the voters' selections on their visual displays.
"I
> > >>originally had high hopes for the new voting machines" said Noel
Runyan,
> > >>the author of the report.
> > >>
> > >>Runyan, who is blind, is a professional electrical engineer who has
> > >>spent
> > >>much of his career developing access technologies for people with
visual
> > >>impairments. "Even with my technical background and the help of poll
> > >>workers, I could not get the Sequoia Edge II DRE to work. I have since
> > >>tested most of the available voting systems at conferences and at the
> > >>National Federation of the Blind's accessible voting systems lab, and
my
> > >>fears have been confirmed: Most of the DREs deployed were not designed
> > >>with real disability access in mind.""...
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>http://www.opednews.com/articles/ge
> > >>
> >
> >
> >
> > >>nera_jgideon_070214__daily_voting_news__.htm
> > >>
> > >>--
> > >>BlindNews mailing list
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >>_______________________________________________
> > >>Mt-blind mailing list
> > >>Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> > >>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> > >
> > >
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> > >2:25 PM
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
> >
> >
> >
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> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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2/16/2007
> > 2:25 PM
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> > _______________________________________________
> > Mt-blind mailing list
> > Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Mt-blind mailing list
> Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.1/690 - Release Date: 2/16/2007
> 2:25 PM
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mt-blind mailing list
> Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mt-blind
>
>
>
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> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.1/690 - Release Date: 2/16/2007 
> 2:25 PM
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>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2007 10:03:58 -0700
> From: "Dan Burke" <burke.dall at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<71aeeee30702170903u172893d0tee38b02263bf52da at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Jim, et al --
>
> I would say look to the report itself to find the source.  I do not
> see it as a threat at all for Montana.  The fact is, in the proposals
> that are likely to come to Congress on changing HAVA (Help Americans
> Vote Act), Montana is already doing most of it.  In other words, we
> meet the nonvisual and physical disability requirements; we have used
> HAVA money to help county elections clerks upgrade compliance with the
> ADA at all their polling places (nearly $1 million over the last year;
> I was asked to sit on the committee that made the grants.).  And
> finally, our machines, the Automark, also produce a paper ballot.
> There is a strong call nationally for verifiability with paper
> ballots.
>
> And, as we learned at the Washington Seminar in discussing these
> issues, there is only one electronic voting machine being made right
> now that prints a paper ballot -- that's the Automark.  So, Montana
> got it right from the first.
>
> So, in that sense, the report might actually back us up.  But really,
> the most important thing is to make sure that legislators know that we
> voted using the nonvisual access of the Automark.  If we don't make
> our voices heard, we could easily be forgotten in the discussions
> reassessing voting changes made on both the state and national levels.
>
> As to the report itself, I would ask listers to take care in posting
> and commenting out of context, or without having read something in
> full.  The quote that was floated on this list, as I read it, wasn't
> particularly relevant to Montana or pertinent to the conversation at
> the time.
>
> On the other hand, this is the type of conversation this list should
> be focusing on -- as basic and critical a right as our private,
> independent vote.  Thanks to all of you for weighing in on it!
>
>
> Dan
>
> On 2/16/07, James Aldrich <jkaldrich at qwest.net> wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > Now that I have been through a first reading of this report, I'd say our
> > Automark machines were treated quite favorably as opposed to other
systems.
> > It certainly is challenging to meet the needs of so many with various
> > challenges to voting.  I of course will be reading this more carefully
in
> > the future.  I certainly hope we here in Montana can continue the good
> > service we have had with our Automark machines despite occasional
problems
> > and lack of training which can occur with election officials.  I think
we
> > certainly are on the right track out here.
> >
> > Jim Aldrich
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "James Aldrich" <jkaldrich at qwest.net>
> > To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 7:21 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> >
> >
> > Hi Dan,
> >
> > Has someone within the NFB done an analysis of this report?  Is it in
the
> > Monitor? If not, where can we get an analysis to this report?  Do you
think
> > this report could cause us problems here in Montana and we'd need to
> > preserve what we have thus far?
> >
> > Thanks much!
> >
> > Jim Aldrich
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dan Burke" <burke.dall at gmail.com>
> > To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 4:34 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> >
> >
> > A couple of comments:
> >
> >
> > *  All Montana voting places used the same machines -- the Automark.
> > This because HAVA discussions began under Bob Brown when he was
> > Secretary of State in Montana, and Myrle Tompkins served on the
> > committee that discussed and reviewed various machines.
> >
> > *  Not all machines out there print ballots, as does the Automark.
> >
> > *  The Automark has nonvisual access, in compliance with HAVA, and
> > access for touch screen and use of other accessibility devices, such
> > as "puff-and-sip" switches for folks with quadreplegia.  This is in
> > contrast to items mentioned in the report Jerry forwarded.
> >
> > *  The article mentions a voting machine that is not used in Montana,
> > but it illustrates some of the problems and frustrations other blind
> > voters had this last election.
> >
> > *  In some states and locations, the votes of blind citizens and other
> > citizens were segregated from the votes of everyone else because they
> > did not have voting machines that produced a printed ballot when
> > finished, as the Automark Montana uses does.
> >
> > *  Montana had an Automark in every local poll, though I'm told that
> > the Missoula County Courthouse didn't have one!
> >
> > Finally, on the matter of PDF documents, Joy is completely right --
> > PDF files can be read by screen readers only if they are constructed
> > correctly in the first place.  Ironically, I did go to look at the
> > Oregon elections web site to read about their mail ballot.  I found no
> > mention of accessibility, blind voters or disability at all.  So, I
> > tried to open the voters' manual, which was a PDF.  I found it to be
> > inaccessible.  Not much encouragement there!
> >
> >
> > Dan
> >
> >
> >
> > On 2/16/07, James Aldrich <jkaldrich at qwest.net> wrote:
> > > Hello Jerry and list,
> > >
> > > I was able to find and read this report with my screen reader.  I
would
> > > think both major screen readers could read this report so long as one
has
> > > an
> > > up to date copy of the adobe reader installed.  One must have the
Adobe
> > > Reader 7.0 or higher installed in their PC.
> > >
> > > I for one would like a more balanced report than this one.  They seem
to
> > > be
> > > relying on the opinion of one person's electronic genius  No doubt Mr.
> > > Ronyon's achievements were notable in their time but his Audapter
speech
> > > system has gone the way of the dinosaur since it was used with Dos
speech
> > > access systems.  Some of those programs which were used with his
system
> > > have
> > > gone that way as well with the exception of today's leading screen
> > > readers.
> > > I think he has gone in a different direction when going into medical
> > > access
> > > fields.  I for one would want to hear from someone who is currently
in the
> > > speech access field to get a broader report of what is actually
happening!
> > >
> > > I think too the organizations represented are pushing their agenda and
> > > interests more than they are reflecting our concerns.  Some want these
> > > machines to be everything to everybody and this isn't possible!  We
use
> > > the
> > > Automark machines here so I'll be interested in reading what that
report
> > > has
> > > to say.  I of course would say people should be fluent in English
before
> > > they can have the right to vote but that's my not so humble
politically
> > > incorrect opinion.  Is our legislature taking this report seriously? 
If
> > > so,
> > > I have some writing to do!  Who should I be writing to?
> > >
> > > I of course need to take more time to read this report but that's what
> > > jumped out at me thus far!
> > >
> > > Thanks for the link!
> > >
> > > Jim Aldrich
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Jerry Hutch" <modrepro at mt.net>
> > > To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > > Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 1:25 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> > >
> > >
> > > I am not sure if this would help but the full text of this report can
be
> > > found at the following link.  The problem is that the report is
> > > presented as a .pdf file.  Most screen readers can can not read .pdf
> > > files.
> > >
> > > Here is the link to the reprt.  http://www.voteraction.org/   It is
the
> > > first report listed there and there is a hypertext link after the 
brief
> > > description that says "read  report here"  click on that link and the
> > > .pdf file will come up
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >  dmgina wrote:
> > >
> > > >Hi there,
> > > >I would keep what we are using.
> > > >We can't let anything become an excuse for us not to keep voting.
> > > >If machines need to be fixed so be it.
> > > >It wouldn't be the first machine that broke.
> > > >We know that nothing was on the machine while we were voting.
> > > >The votes went threw and were counted with the rest when counting was
> > > >being
> > > >added up for the day.
> > > >I am not sure why this article is so important.
> > > >At first, the first time, the machine didn't do the whole ballad.
> > > >But the second time it worked like a charm.
> > > >Keep encouraging blind folks to vote.
> > > >It is a step that is a thrill the first time it happens.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >--Dar
> > > >wishing a
> > > >backTpack
> > > >call me at
> > > >406-259-1124
> > > >Every Saint has a past,
> > > >Every sinner has a future ,
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: "Jerry Hutch" <modrepro at mt.net>
> > > >To: "Montana Association for the Blind List" <mt-blind at nfbnet.org>
> > > >Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 12:47 PM
> > > >Subject: [Mt-blind] VOTING MACHINES
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>Dan and the list,
> > > >>
> > > >>Here is a message about voting machines and their problems that I
have
> > > >>received by email.  This is for your information.
> > > >>
> > > >>OpEd News, PA, USA
> > > >>Wednesday, February 14, 2007
> > > >>
> > > >>"Daily Voting News" For February 14, 2007
> > > >>
> > > >>By JGideon
> > > >>John Gideon of VotersUnite.org
> > > >>
> > > >>According to a new report issued by VoterAction and Demos, "Direct
> > > >>Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines, once considered
essential to
> > > >>ensuring private and independent voting booth access for voters with
> > > >>disabilities, often do not work as promised, according to a new
report
> > > >>published today.
> > > >>
> > > >>Authored by access technology expert Noel Runyan and published by
> > > >>election
> > > >>reform groups Demos and Voter Action, "Improving Access to Voting: A
> > > >>Report on the Technology for Accessible Voting Systems" shows that,
due
> > > >>to
> > > >>inadequate or malfunctioning voting machines, voters with
disabilities
> > > >>are
> > > >>frequently forced to ask for assistance or compromise the privacy of
> > > >>their
> > > >>vote- severe violations of federal disability accommodation
> > > >>requirements.
> > > >>
> > > >>The report details significant difficulties for voters with
> > > >>disabilities,
> > > >>including: the lack of a controllable interface for those who are
unable
> > > >>to use touch screens or tactile key inputs; inadequate audio access
> > > >>features for people with visual or cognitive impairments, with
dyslexia,
> > > >>or with severe motor-impairments; and lack of privacy curtains to
> > > >>prevent
> > > >>others from reading the voters' selections on their visual
displays. "I
> > > >>originally had high hopes for the new voting machines" said Noel
Runyan,
> > > >>the author of the report.
> > > >>
> > > >>Runyan, who is blind, is a professional electrical engineer who has
> > > >>spent
> > > >>much of his career developing access technologies for people with
visual
> > > >>impairments. "Even with my technical background and the help of poll
> > > >>workers, I could not get the Sequoia Edge II DRE to work. I have
since
> > > >>tested most of the available voting systems at conferences and at
the
> > > >>National Federation of the Blind's accessible voting systems lab,
and my
> > > >>fears have been confirmed: Most of the DREs deployed were not
designed
> > > >>with real disability access in mind.""...
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>http://www.opednews.com/articles/ge
> > > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >>nera_jgideon_070214__daily_voting_news__.htm
> > > >>
> > > >>--
> > > >>BlindNews mailing list
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:24:18 -0700
> From: Edward C Robbins <robbinsec at juno.com>
> Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] VOTING  MACHINES
> To: mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> Cc: mt-blind at nfbnet.org
> Message-ID: <20070217.104108.3676.1.robbinsec at juno.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-15
>
> Jerry,
>         I appreciate the report forwarded, but the machines used here in
> Montana, for the most part functioned quite well.
>         Again, It was the first time in 28 years that I was able to vote
> without assistance, or someone else marking my ballot.
> Ted Robbins,
>  
> On Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:47:23 -0700 Jerry Hutch <modrepro at mt.net> writes:
> > Dan and the list,
> > Here is a message about voting machines and their problems that I 
> > have received by email.  This is for your information.
> > OpEd News, PA, USA Wednesday, February 14, 2007 "Daily Voting News" 
> > For February 14, 2007 By JGideon John Gideon of VotersUnite.org 
> > According to a new report issued by VoterAction and Demos, "Direct 
> > Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines, once considered 
> > essential to ensuring private and independent voting booth access 
> > for voters with disabilities, often do not work as promised, 
> > according to a new report published today. Authored by access 
> > technology expert Noel Runyan and published by election reform 
> > groups Demos and Voter Action, "Improving Access to Voting: A Report 
> > on the Technology for Accessible Voting Systems" shows that, due to 
> > inadequate or malfunctioning voting machines, voters with 
> > disabilities are frequently forced to ask for assistance or 
> > compromise the privacy of their vote- severe violations of federal 
> > disability accommodation requirements. The report details 
> > significant difficulties for voters with disabilities, including: 
> > the lack of a controllable inter!
> > face for those who are unable to use touch screens or tactile key 
> > inputs; inadequate audio access features for people with visual or 
> > cognitive impairments, with dyslexia, or with severe 
> > motor-impairments; and lack of privacy curtains to prevent others 
> > from reading the voters' selections on their visual displays. "I 
> > originally had high hopes for the new voting machines" said Noel 
> > Runyan, the author of the report. Runyan, who is blind, is a 
> > professional electrical engineer who has spent much of his career 
> > developing access technologies for people with visual impairments. 
> > "Even with my technical background and the help of poll workers, I 
> > could not get the Sequoia Edge II DRE to work. I have since tested 
> > most of the available voting systems at conferences and at the 
> > National Federation of the Blind's accessible voting systems lab, 
> > and my fears have been confirmed: Most of the DREs deployed were not 
> > designed with real disability access in mind.""... 
> > http://www.opednews.com/articl!
> > es/genera_jgideon_070214__daily_voting_news__.htm 
> >
> http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_jgideon_070214__daily_voting_news
> __.htm
> > -- BlindNews mailing list
> > 
>  
>
>
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> End of Mt-blind Digest, Vol 8, Issue 16
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