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Arizona Voting Pilot for People with Disabilities



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May 24, 2004, News Report

Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer recently kicked off the first phase of a pilot project to introduce innovative new voting devices that will be tested on a limited basis to enhance Arizona's voting process. The new technology allows voters with disabilities and others special needs to cast a ballot without assistance and in private while still utilizing currently used optical scan voting equipment.

Phase I of the pilot project included an interactive demonstration of this new equipment at the secretary of state's office where members of the disability community, minority groups and literacy groups were invited to participate and try out the new voting technology.

"My office has been absolutely diligent in searching out viable alternatives and options for making voting more accessible to all people, while still ensuring the integrity of our election process," said Brewer. "I am most interested to hear feedback from the various people we've invited here today as to their thoughts and/or concerns about this technology."

In addition to providing better access to persons with disabilities, minority groups and other voters, this new system is also raising eyebrows throughout the election world as it avoids much of the recent nationwide controversies surrounding touchscreen voting technology by allowing for a voter-verifiable paper ballot.

"We are absolutely ecstatic that ES&S/Automark has agreed to partner with Arizona to be their sole demonstration pilot program for the upcoming November general election," added Brewer, "Arizona will be the only state in the entire nation that will be demonstrating this state-of-the-art touchscreen voting device that also incorporates a paper ballot."

The voter is prompted to make his or her selection using a touchscreen or by audible prompts as necessary. When finished, the machine marks a conventional paper ballot, which is then cast by the voter in the same manner as a hand-marked ballot. A summary screen allows a voter to review all choices made, and the paper ballot can be audited in the same manner as hand-marked ballots.

The pilot project was spurred by requirements of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) passed by Congress in 2002. One of the many requirements of HAVA is that all polling locations must be equipped with at least one disability-accessible voting machine by the 2006 federal elections. KW

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