Yes, disabled voters can receive assistance to vote. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) ensures accessibility and promotes independent voting for individuals with disabilities.
Can Disabled Voters Get Assistance?
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), starting in 2006, mandates that every polling place for federal elections must have at least one accessible voting machine for people with disabilities. These machines and other accommodations enable disabled voters to vote privately and independently.
What Types of Assistance Are Available to Voters with Disabilities?
Ballot marking devices (BMDs) are often used with scanners, allowing people with disabilities to vote independently. These devices, often tablets, let voters mark a virtual ballot by selecting choices on a screen. The machine then prints the marked ballot, which can be fed into an optical scanner for electronic counting or counted by hand.
BMDs offer multiple ways to interact with the ballot:
- Touch screen
- Keypad with Braille
- Sip and puff device (for those with limited motor skills)
- Rocker paddles (for those with limited motor skills)
How Do Voting Systems Accommodate Visual Impairments?
Voting systems can be adjusted for better visibility, with zoom and high contrast functions, as well as better audio with repeat and speed controls. The ballot can be seen on the device or listened to via headphones.
What Did the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines Do?
The Election Assistance Committee (EAC) adopted the 2005 Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, which significantly increased security requirements for voting systems and expanded accessibility for disabled individuals, allowing them opportunities to vote privately and independently. The guidelines took effect in December 2007, making all previous standards obsolete.
Are There Protections Against Overvotes?
HAVA requires that voting systems notify voters of overvotes. It also allows them to review their ballots and correct errors before casting their votes.
In summary, disabled voters can receive various forms of assistance to ensure they can vote independently and privately. These include accessible voting machines, ballot marking devices, and options for visual and auditory assistance.
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