Thought you might be interested in this.
David Andrews
 
 
== Forwarded Message Follows ========================================= 
 
 * Originally By: Bob Buchanan 
 * Originally To: All 
 * Originally Re: Audio ballots for the blind (fwd.) 
 * Original Date: 31 Oct 96  09:25:36 
 * Original Area: Adaptive Equipment Discussion 
 * Forwarded by : Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 
 
== Forwarded Message Follows ========================================= 
 
 * Originally By: Gary Warren 
 * Original Area: ABLED 
 
--------- Begin forwarded message ---------- 
 
Blind Cast Vote On Audio Ballot 
 
                       By EDUARDO MONTES Associated Press Writer 
 
     EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- For the first time, voting has given Ann 
Westbrook 
a true feeling of independence. 
    Because she is blind, Westbrook has always depended on someone else to
read her the ballot, then punch in her choices. Sometimes she has endured a
running commentary on her decisions.
    This year, an audio ballot -- listeners hear a tape-recorded voice over
    headphones and punch in their selections -- is being used exclusively in
    El Paso County. It meant Westbrook could make her selections in secret.
    ``This is a wonderful thing,'' an elated Westbrook said after casting an
    early ballot. ``It's hard to describe it. It's like I've really voted for
    the first time because I did it myself.''
    The ballots, available in all 155 voting precincts, are the result of a
precedent-setting class-action lawsuit filed in 1994. The suit, in which
Westbrook was a plaintiff, accused Texas of discriminating against the blind
by not providing some way for them to cast a secret ballot. They won, and 
S.
District Judge David Briones ordered the state to make all polling places
accessible before the year 2000 elections to voters who are blind or
physically disabled. Texas has appealed. El Paso County settled before the
1995 trial and agreed to offer the audio ballots beginning Oct. 16, the first
day of early voting in Texas.
   ``It's the first time that it's being tried in the United States, and I'm
real happy that El Paso can be given the distinction of being on the cutting
edge,'' said Michael Norris, who helped develop scripts for the tapes. The
county elections office will equip each precinct with a regular cassette-tape
player, headphones and tapes that include the names of candidates and
instructions on how to punch the ballots. Listeners follow along and find the
appropriate category by counting the holes on the metal slot holding the
ballot. They make their selections by poking a hole into the ballot next to
the desired candidate's name. The equipment, which cost between $10,000 and
$12,000, is available at 14 early voting stations. County elections
administrator Helen Jamison said people who have used the new system seemed
pleased. ``It takes them a little longer, but they're very happy and 
tisfied
that they voted by themselves,'' Jamison said. For Westbrook, it meant no
longer feeling that other voters considered her a nuisance because she needed
assistance. This time, using a seeing-eye dog, she made her way easily 
rough
the line to receive her ballot. A poll worker guided her to the voting
machine, gave her the tape player and left. Westbrook had to ask for a second
ballot because she lost track of what categories she was voting on but
finished easily the second time. Burns Taylor, another plaintiff in the suit,
voted at the same time and finished in about 10 minutes. ``I'm real 
cited,''
said Taylor, who is blind. ``I feel like a regular person.''
   Norris said the system may encourage blind or visually impaired people to
vote for the first time. ``I believe that it covers a very basic need that we
have to maintain our own dignity -- by being able to go into the voting booth
and not be swayed by anyone,'' he said.
... Gary L. Warren, 1:382/92.7, glw@texanet.net, garylwarren_lost@juno.com,
teriw@tenet.edu and disabilitynewsletter@juno.com; Personal Home Page: 
http://members.tripod.com/~GaryLWarren/index.html.  disABILITY NEWS-letter: 
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1727/.
-!- PPoint 1.90
 ! Origin: Gary's Bar and Grill (1:382/92.7)
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-!- Blue Wave/Max v2.30
 ! Origin: Brainstormers Idea Exchange, Calgary AB (403)285-5928 (1:134/61)
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... A feature is a bug with seniority.
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]
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