New Technology Helps Voters with Disabilities
A new ballot marking device that lets people with disabilities vote privately has arrived in Onondaga County. The device has three types of adaptive attachments as well as audio capabilities, making it accessible for people with visual impairments, or reach and hand dexterity limitations. The technology makes it possible for some residents to vote independently for the first time in their lives.
This year, the Onondaga County Board of Elections will have pull lever machines at each polling place for voters who can use them, and will also have one of the new ballot marking devices at each location. It is anticipated that paper ballots will arrive next year, at which time pull lever machines will be eliminated and voting will be done with paper ballots that are scanned for tabulation.
Beata Karpinska-Prehn, Advocacy Director at ARISE, notes that, “While the device is user-friendly in many respects, the instructions are lengthy and it requires hand-eye coordination so some may have trouble using it.” Karpinska-Prehn is encouraging anyone who has trouble with a pull lever voting machine to try the new device if they’d like to vote in person and privately this year.
The new voting device is available for testing until Election Day at ARISE, an Independent Living Center located at 635 James St. in Syracuse. Call 472-3171 for more information or to schedule an appointment.