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Voter Education
FREE Voter Education Information
For Community Organizations
Granite State Independent Living has partnered with the Secretary of State’s Office to provide organizations an opportunity to learn more about the new accessible voting system in New Hampshire. As mandated by the Help America Vote Act, every polling place became accessible in November 2007. There are several new options available to individuals with disabilities to increase access to voting and we would like you to know about them.
The private accessible voting booth is now truly accessible. It is 6’ x 6’ x 6 ½’, has a privacy flap and a table and chair inside the booth. On the table will be some equipment which will be described below. There will be fewer voting booths – and tables with privacy screens on them, allowing voters to sit and vote instead of standing the entire time, while still ensuring privacy. The goal is to eventually replace 50% of the voting booths with privacy screens on tables.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 mandates that every polling place in the United States be accessible to persons with disabilities and that the ballot must also be accessible to everyone, including people with little or no vision. Its purpose is to guarantee equal access to the voting process for aging voters as well as persons with disabilities by way of an accessible voting system.
In order to determine what kind of system this state should acquire to satisfy HAVA, NH assembled a task force that included the Departments of State and Justice, disability-relates organizations and local election officials. After much deliberation, the decision was made to use the Inspire Voting System (IVS). IVS is an interactive telephone system that will allow any voter in any polling place to access their ballot from that polling place by telephone, making their selections using the telephone keypad, and have their ballot faxed back to them at the polling place for insertion into the ballet box. NH law requires that each vote cast in NH be counted from a marked piece of paper. New Hampshire is one of only a handful of states that don’t allow a simple electronic vote that gives no physical evidence that a vote will be counted. So there is no fear that the new system will not count all votes. Voters will be submitting a marked ballot just like every other voter.
The beauty of the system is that the technology needed for a registered voter to use this system is simply an amplified telephone and a fax machine. The phone itself can be amplified to 50 decibels and will have tone adjustment. It will also have a large keypad buttons with good contrast. In addition, for someone who may not be able to hold on to the handset or who may simply prefer to use headphones, they will also be available.
One major factor for the decision to use the IVS system is its capability to Preview and Practice before Election Day. Approximately 3 weeks prior to the actual Election Day in November, voters will be able to access the system from the comfort and privacy of their own home. This will help to familiarize voters with the computerized voice and how to navigate the keypad to make choices. Practicing will also remind voters of the different contests (races) they will be voting for and any warrant articles that may be on the ballot for that Election Day.
Voters can use the Preview and Practice as often as they wish. Since the system uses a digitized voice, practicing beforehand will make the process quicker when voters actually go to vote.
All 310 polling places in NH will receive a self-contained kit with everything they need to provide access to the ballot for registered voters. The kit will include the telephone and fax machine as well as some low-tech aids that will make voting more accessible and less frustrating for anyone who has difficulty using a traditional ballot. Some of the items included are privacy screens to be used on tables so voters can sit down; a page magnifier for someone who wants to use a traditional ballot but needs magnification; a set of headphones with adjustable volume; communication cards for deaf and hard of hearing voters; a table lamp for better illumination of the ballot; and a signature template for someone who is blind or has significant vision loss and chooses to register on Election Day.
The Secretary of States office has been providing comprehensive training sessions all around the state to educate local election officials and poll workers about the system. The seminars also include disability etiquette information and suggestions about how they can respectfully assist all people with disabilities.
GSIL’s staff is available this summer and fall to present more information to groups about the voting accessibility and how it will provide the opportunity for individuals with all abilities to vote independently. To find out more or to schedule a training session contact Kim Maynard at (800) 826-3700 ext. 1101 or by e-mail at kmaynard@gsil.org.