[nfbwatlk] [Fwd: Positive media coverage for King County Elections (Seattle Times and Seattle PI)]

Tue Nov 7 16:09:42 CST 2006

Kris:

Great article. Except have you forgotten our White Cane Law, passed in 
1967? That's a far-sight earlier than 1990! (grin)

Mike

On Tue, 7 Nov 2006, kris Lawrence wrote:

>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: 	Positive media coverage for King County Elections (Seattle
> Times and Seattle PI)
> Date:
> From:
>
>
>
> Seattle Times/Letter to the Editor
> *County elections office has retooled effectively *
>
> The madness of the 2004 governor's election is in our proverbial
> rearview mirror. But I fear many races with local power hanging in the
> balance might still be ahead of us today.
>
> Undoubtedly, the political fallout of the last governor's race was
> certainly a wake-up call for King County Elections. But in that same
> span of time, the staff has worked tirelessly to fix the problems in the
> last election cycle, to instill voter confidence and to ensure that the
> results of this year's election won't be mired in recounts.
>
> The King County Elections system isn't perfect. Very few organizations
> of this magnitude and scope are anymore. But the dedicated staff has
> come a long way, accepted that responsibility and retooled the systems
> accordingly.
>
> Voting is our duty, our right and our privilege. It is also a
> responsibility that King County Elections helps us to fulfill. For that,
> they deserve our support, recognition, and -- above all -- gratitude.
>
> *Dana Robinson Slote*
> Seattle
>
> *SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
> *http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/291315_ballot07.html
>
> *Secret ballot available to more voters*
>
> /Tuesday, November 7, 2006/
>
> *KRISTINA LAWRENCE*
> GUEST COLUMNIST
>
> Twenty-six years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was the
> first piece of legislation to break down barriers to employment,
> building access, transportation and services. These legal guarantees are
> important but don't change the fact that, until this year, having a
> disability didn't guarantee the right to cast a secret ballot.
>
> As a person who has been blind for 22 years, I've relied on family
> members and friends to accurately complete my ballot and make my voice
> heard on important issues, such as funding for schools and public
> transportation. In 2004, Washington residents like myself learned how
> important voting was, with just 129 votes separating the top two
> candidates in the closest gubernatorial race in U.S. history.
>
> It wasn't until this past September during the primary that I, for the
> first time, truly cast a secret ballot -- my own ballot. It was the
> first time that I, as an American citizen and voter, felt the privilege
> of voting and knowing that my vote was truly private.
>
> The Help America Vote Act, which requires one accessible voting unit or
> electronic voting machine at every polling place across the country,
> takes accessibility for everyone beyond the Americans with Disabilities
> Act. For the first time in history, voters who are blind will be able to
> cast their vote privately with the use of new audio ballots. And for the
> first time, voters with limited hand dexterity can use a touch screen to
> cast a ballot independently.
>
> Citing security concerns, local and national critics counseled against
> implementing the Help America Vote Act. To me, forbidding access to
> voting in the name of security is to say that it is impossible to have a
> secure and accessible election. I do not feel the two ideals are
> mutually exclusive.
>
> Security procedures, poll worker training and audits serve as safeguards
> for accessible voting equipment.
>
> # Each accessible voting unit in Washington is equipped with a
> voter-verifiable paper audit trail that prints a paper copy of your
> ballot choices to confirm your choices before casting your ballot. The
> paper record of your vote is securely stored and only accessed for an
> audit or recount.
> # Only King County Elections has access to program equipment used for
> voting and counting ballots and memory cards are programmed and sealed
> before Election Day to prevent tampering.
> # Accessible voting units in King County have no wireless components. The
> units are not networked to each other, nor are they connected to the
> Internet or an intranet. Procedures in place ensure the accessible
> voting units are completely isolated throughout Election Day.
> # And finally, the day after the election, 4 percent of all machines
> deployed on Election Day will be selected at random by political party
> observers and thoroughly audited in the presence of observers and the
> public. Official election staff will compare the electronic and paper
> tally of ballots.
>
> As a member of King County Elections' community advisory board, and a
> voter who is blind, I applaud the efforts my elections department has
> made to protect my private vote. With strict procedures in place,
> rigorous poll worker training and post-Election Day audits, I'm
> confident that when I go to the polls today my vote will be secure and
> counted.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> /Kristina Lawrence of Seattle is the president of the National
> Federation of the Blind of Washington, Seattle chapter./
>
> _____________________________
>
> Dana Robinson Slote
>
> Director of Communications
>
> University of Washington
>
> School of Dentistry
>
> (206) 616 - 0827
>
> www.dental.washington.edu <http://www.dental.washington.edu/>
>
> *Campaign UW: Creating Futures*
>
> ****
>
> _Washington_ summer research program broadens (ADA News, October 26 –
> Dr. Timothy DeRouen quoted)
> <http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/adanews/adanewsarticle.asp?articleid=2167>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>