Co-Editors: Dave Klein and John Washburn

Does a polling place have an accessible voting system (as required by federal law) just because it contains "accessible" equipment, or do you have to be able to get into the building to use it?

Nearly seven years ago, the federal government provided billions of dollars for states to use to --- among other things --- make voting in every polling place accessible to people with disabilities. States rushed to purchase now-discredited electronic voting machines that the vendors claimed allowed people with disabilities to vote privately and independently. States put the machines in every polling place, but what did they do to make the polling places physically accessible? Very little, according to a new report from the GAO. 73% of the nation's polling places remain physically inaccessible to many voters --- an improvement of 11% since 2000....

• National: GAO Report --- VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES: More Polling Places Had No Potential Impediments Than in 2000, but Challenges Remain
  http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09685.pdf
• National: ElectionLine Weekly includes a summary of 2009 election-related legislation across the states.
  http://www.pewcenteronth...onlineWeekly06.11.09.pdf
• CA: CA Bills Aim to “Drive” Voter Registration to 100 Percent
  http://www.lawattstimes....-community-meetings.html
• FL: Get out the vote, sign up for class
  http://www.centralflorid...n-up-for-class-1.1761586
• GA: A Victory for Voter ID - Hans A. von Spakovsky
  http://corner.nationalre...ODRkYWEwN2MxMjViYTY5MmQ=
• NM: MALDEF voter intimidation lawsuit dismissed — civil rights group says suit sent ’strong message’ MALDEF says
  http://newmexicoindepend...rong-message-maldef-says
• NY: 15 Counties Reject Voting Machine Mandate
  http://www.northcountryg...09/06/11/reject_mandate/
• TX: Associate registrar moonlights by selling voter data
  http://www.chron.com/dis.../hotstories/6469960.html
• VA: Election Day 2009 - report from the trenches
  http://abqordia.blogspot...eport-from-trenches.html
• Amsterdam: Trustworthy Voting: From Machine to System
  http://boole.computer.or...homepage/May09/r5pra.pdf
  "The authors describe an electronic voting approach that takes a system view, incorporating a trustworthy process based on open source software, simplified procedures, and built-in redundant safeguards that prevent tampering."
• Europe: Breaking down barriers for accessible IT
  http://www.vnunet.com/co...reaking-barriers-4709810
• Europe: European Elections 2009 - My personal voting experience
  http://eurout.org/2009/0...rsonal-voting-experience
• Philippines: Awarding of automation project hailed as a step closer to credible polls
  http://richardgordon.blo...tion-project-hailed.html

Published by VotersUnite.Org
Ellen Theisen, Director and Managing Editor
Dave Klein, Editor
John Washburn, Editor

Daily Voting News was founded on February 6, 2004 by John Gideon (1947-2009). To assist with Daily Voting News, please send links to news articles to dvn-tips. To donate, click here

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