Challenges of Accessible Voting

Sami McGinnis navigated a small conference hall and approached an accessible voting machine. It featured a controller with a sizable screen, headphones, and a brightly colored button.

Wearing the headphones, McGinnis picked up the controller but found it difficult to use, even with larger print options, due to her declining vision. She struggled to locate the correct button as the audio instructions rapidly progressed to the next step.

Despite assistance from county election workers, McGinnis was unable to successfully operate the machine. Frustrated, she lowered the controller and removed her headphones.

“I don’t really know the colors. They say to press a button, and I think it’s the red choice,” she remarked. “Can you tell me what’s red? I can’t see it. I just don’t know which button I’ve selected, and they don’t provide any shapes or anything.”

McGinnis was among roughly 20 participants at an event on Monday at Ability360, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities live independent lives. This event featured Maricopa County Election officials who aimed to raise awareness about accessible voting accommodations and machines.

However, as McGinnis discovered, these solutions don’t suit everyone’s needs.

On September 12, the deadline for requesting mail-in voting for the upcoming special election on September 23 passed. This election is aimed at filling vacant seats in the 7th Congressional District, which spans much of the Mexico border and a significant portion of Maricopa County.

For those with disabilities who miss deadlines or prefer to vote in person, accessible voting machines are the primary option available.

Election officials hope to empower individuals with disabilities to vote independently. The machines can adjust text colors and backgrounds for better readability, and they offer audio guidance through headphones. Additionally, the controllers have Braille instructions.

Another option is the Sip-and-Puff adapter, which allows individuals to make selections by inhaling or exhaling into a tube.

Still, these machines can present challenges for some users.

Angelica Bland, a voter outreach coordinator for Maricopa County Elections, noted that confusion surrounding these devices could complicate the voting experience, like McGinnis encountered.

“Voters wishing to use accessible devices can get assistance from poll workers if they have questions at the voting center,” Bland explained. “There are various options for help when using these accessible voting machines.”

Accessible voting machines are not the only means available for individuals with disabilities to cast their ballots. Large print and Braille mail-in voting options enable remote voting from home.

Jenny Cosgrove, who has limited vision on her right side, prefers not to use large print voting materials.

“Having accessible voting options is crucial for me to participate in the U.S. voting system,” she said. “Being able to receive large print ballots is fantastic because it means I can vote independently without relying on my partner to assist me.”

Bland mentioned that the need for large print or Braille options isn’t stored in voter registration data, so individuals must request these services before elections.

Some event attendees indicated that while mail-in voting could be beneficial, it doesn’t completely address their needs.

Joseph Briceno, who has myositis impacting his muscle function, uses mail-in voting to take his time filling out ballots. He expressed concern over his voter registration status this year.

“I’m trying to read and understand. I hope to manage filling out the paperwork,” Briceno said. “My worry is that I received a letter indicating I registered to vote in California, which is impossible since I’m here.”

In response, Maricopa County Election officials will offer a bipartisan registration team to assist voters, but requests must be made at least seven days before the election.

This option is not appealing to individuals like McGinnis, who prefers to handle the voting process independently.

“I want to do it myself,” she emphasized. “I don’t want to be babysat. It’s about me voting for myself.”

Although several attendees found the accommodations helpful, feedback indicated that there is still room for improvement, particularly regarding accessible voting machines.

The conversation highlighted the significance of voting, a sentiment that resonated with many attendees.

“We have a voice, and our country relies on us too,” McGinnis concluded. “Voting is incredibly important to me.”