A disabled person's first experience with a voting machine

[DanCa]

I just got back from voting and I noticed that my podunk town switched to touch screen voting. I noticed that I had several difficulties in using the machine. First and foremost it wasn't on plane with my chair. So I had to bear the pain, stand and lean against the machine edges and plug the information in. Secondly and more disconcerning was the fact that my hands were shaking so much from my dyskensia that I had to correct the ballot several times. Third we only had one machine and the people behind me were getting restless and giving me dirty looks.

Well while I do feel good about having gone down to my polling place in person a part of me feels like it took much more effort than it should have. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem or anything similair too it. If you want to pm me about and not reply here its cool too. I am just burned out right now from both this experience and wheeling myself around for two blocks in the cold. Thanks everyone. Danny.

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Did you comment on this to your poll workers?

Perhaps a letter to the election board is in order. I would imagine that they would have to follow the same rules for handicap access...including the voting machine. Sorry you had a tough time of it BUT thank you for voting. :thumbsup:

[DanCa]

2. Yes I did

Her response was well were not going to have a big turnout it in the Il primairy and by the time the general elections come around we'll have all the bugs worked out. Than she said I can always do an absentee ballot. I said no thanks to the absentee voting. I want people to see who there voting against. (Who meaning people with disabilites)

[Love Bug]

3. See, in Minnesota they always have at least one voting station

that is lower than the others to accomodate those in wheelchairs. There are also signs clearly posted stating that those who are physically unable to mark their own ballot would be assisted by a poll worker.

I am sorry the simple act of voting was so uncomfortable for you -- it doesn't have to be that way if the "powers that be" would just put a little thought into it.

[Minnesota Libra]

5. Tht's one of the things I love about our state also paper ballots nt

[DanCa]

4. Kicked for will pitts thread on il voting

His post got me thinking was the hardship I exped. intentional?

[Minnesota Libra]

6. I'm so sorry you had such a problem voting - that is plain wrong nt

[DanCa]

7. Thanks

But now am pissed because I am thinking it could have been intentional. Please tell me that I am wrong.

[Minnesota Libra]

9. NO you are NOT wrong because as stated........

......above by myself and someone else here in Minn a lower table is ALWAYS available for disabled voters. Here in Minn voting is taken VERY seriously and YES we still have paper ballots too. I hope that continues to be the case in November and in 08 too.

[Pastiche423]

8. Dan -

Does showing others that PWDs can vote in public mean more to you than your vote counting?

I am lucky that my entire state votes via mail and on PAPER BALLOTS. Before I moved here, I voted absentee.

I absolutely refuse to vote on the touch screen crap machines.

[DanCa]

10. I gotta do some soul searching t o answer that in all honestly

Honestly since I live in such a po dunk town I dont know if my appearance matters that much. I ll think hard about absentee voting for now on allthough I dont trust the legimate count of absentee ballots much more than touch screens.

[Beaverhausen]

11. That sucks. My disabled friend always votes absentee