Vote gloat?
So it turns out that voting machine security is so bad in California, the mainstream touch-screen units might be dumped in favor of…machines originally set up primarily to guarantee accessibility. And oh yes, there’s sudden notice being taken of non-compliance with state regulations on “offer[ing] a paper record that blind voters can verify through an audio playback.” Accessibility: Not just the law; it’s a good idea.
Lei off
Starting later this month, Honolulu residents will have the option of voting via the Internet. Unfortunately, the first step of the voting process requires users to “Choose a word that describes the four images above” for CAPTCHA-type authentication. Automatic barrier to blind folks, and possible barrier to people with cognitive disabilities or even cultural differences as well.
Vote note gets our goat
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a letter last week outlining “the initial results of activities…relating to the evaluation of [voting machine] testing laboratories under…the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).” Not a single mention of any testing related to machine accessibility, despite HAVA’s explicit mandate for addressing voting needs of people with disabilities.
National Institute of Standards and Technology letter to Election Assistance Commission (PDF file)
Vote of confidence?
A post-election analysis of making the Internet the sole means of voting that covers everything except, of course, accessibility. On the one hand, Internet voting will allow individuals to use their own assistive technology on their own computers. On the other, there will still have to be some type of public voting areas, and these will need to accommodate people with disabilities. Plus ça change…
Silent Secretaries of State
A new website, created by all the US secretaries of state, is supposed to be a step-by-step guide to voting. I guess they mean that “step-by-step” part literally; absolutely no mention of accessibility.
California implements e-voting paper trail
Can California put together an all-accessible voting system with one that produces a voter-verifiable paper receipt? Stay tuned….
California Could be First in Nation to Implement E-Voting Paper Trail
Learn how to use new electronic voting machines
Pennsylvania opened a new website to teach citizens how to use the state’s new electronic voting systems. Visitors will be able to learn online via some sample votes on cultural issues like “What’s you favorite movie?”
Unfortunately, the site itself has some accessibility barriers. Watch out, Keystone State — you don’t want to draw the wrong kind of attention on accessible voting.