Accessible ITems
DC Implements Accessible Touchscreen Voting
All citizens of the District of Columbia, including the 22,000 individuals who are blind and disabled, will for the first time, be able to vote secretly and independently. DC is among the first jurisdictions to meet the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requirement for one accessible touchscreen voting unit in every polling place.
American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) VP, Jim Dickson, who is blind, has been a leading force nationally to make voting accessible for everyone. As a resident of the District of Columbia, he will be able to cast a ballot for the first time in his life without needing someone to enter the voting booth with him. "I've been voting for 36 years. I've had to trust that others marked my ballot according to my wishes. I am excited and proud to exercise my fundamental right as an American. This is a big step for me and a huge step for democracy."
In another first, the District will be conducting the election on a "blended system." Voters will have the choice of voting on an accessible electronic touchscreen or on a paper optical scan ballot. The accessible system allows the blind voter, using headphones, to hear the ballot and vote following the prompts. Prior to casting his vote secretly, Jim Dickson demonstrated the audio ballot using electronic speakers.
Disability Access Provisions of HAVA:
HAVA allocates $850 million to provide one accessible voting machine in each polling place. The federal government provides 95% of the cost. HAVA allocates $100 million to make polling places physically accessible, but there is no national definition of "accessible" or a deadline for implementation. Grants will be awarded by Health and Human Services.
HAVA impacts every part of the voting process, from voting machines to provisional ballots, from voter registration to poll worker training. Under HAVA, states must meet new federal requirements, including provisional ballots, statewide computerized voter lists, "second chance" voting, and disability access. States will receive federal funds for these purposes and to improve the administration of elections. To be eligible for grants, each state must design a plan, pass enabling legislation this year, and appropriate a small amount of state funds. Each state must develop its implementation plan through a process that includes citizen participation and a public review. Elements that must be included in the state plan and legislation:
- The disability community and other stakeholders must be represented on the HAVA planning commission.
- Electronically including all Medicaid and other disability agencies as voter registration sites in the new statewide voter registration system.
- Have one accessible voting system in every polling place by January 1, 2006.
- All voting related materials must be provided in alternative formats.
- Disability etiquette training for poll workers must be a statewide curriculum
[Source: Disability Recommendations for State Implementation of the Help America Vote Act 
(www.aapd-dc.org/dvpmain/elreform/dvpstateHAVA.html), AAPD.]
