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Technology Helps Some Voters With Disabilities

Jo Ingles
/
Statehouse News Bureau

Nearly a quarter of Ohio adults have some type of disability. Voting can be a difficult process for some of them. But there are things that are being done to make it easier for Ohioans with disabilities to cast ballots. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.  

 

Sharyn Rigsbee demonstrates a special voting machine at the Franklin County Board of Elections.  This machine is designed for low vision or no vision voters. And Rigsbee says the technology is available at county boards of elections throughout the state.

 

Think of it. You have the ability to submit and cast your own independent vote.  To know that you can do that without the assistance of a poll worker or another person, it has to be incredibly rewarding to know they can do that like any other person on Election Day.”

 

Voters with disabilities have been able to cast ballots by mail for many years. They’ve also been able to cast ballots at the board of elections with assistance. But this technology allows them to vote without anyone’s help. Mike Brickner with the group “All Voting is Local” says the organization has been reaching out to voters with disabilities, letting them know about all of their options.

 

Voters have the right to a secret ballot as well and an autonomous ballot and so if we have the technology in place to allow people to vote independently, we want to make sure people have that ability.”

 

Beth Thompson agrees. She works with a Cleveland called “Milestones Autism Resources.” They’ve been making and distributing education videos to voters with autism.

 

Individuals with autism have a difficult time processing multiple sensory modes and can more easily process information that is presented to them visually. So as opposed to producing a video where someone talked through how to register to vote, we created a visual that went through the steps of ‘Am I registered? How do I register’ and how to access absentee ballots so you could avoid high sensory issues that can occur at voting locations.”

 

Thompson says the group heavily recommends early voting or voting by mail because there won’t be the crowd and the confusion that often comes along with Election Day. And she says the efforts are paying off.

 

We have seen a real wave of young adults and adults who are recognizing their rights and are exercising their right to vote because they are understanding much more how these candidates and issues affect their daily lives.”

 

The state doesn’t track the number of voters who have disabilities. But there are just over 8 million registered voters. The Center for Disability Empowerment estimates there are two million Ohio voters with disabilities.  

 

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.
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