Voting rights for people with disabilities-Part 2
Rochester, NY–
Over the past several months, the Democrat and Chronicle has devoted
a great deal of print addressing the need for new voting machines.
From what I understand, there has also been a survey going around asking about the need for access in polling places. here is one man’s response, printed in the Democrat and Chronicle:
No change needed in voting booths
As a voter for more than 50 years, I have never experienced a problem
with our existing voting machines. My handicapped son has been voting
for 15 years and has experienced no problems. He utilizes the
absentee ballot. This requires no special arrangements for
transportation or trained personnel to accompany him to the voting
booth. All it requires is a 39-cent stamp.
FRANK KUHN
SCOTTSVILLE
Clearly, Mr. Kuhn feels that he knows whats best for our community. 
As far as I am concerned, this is the danger of absentee ballots in relation to folks with disabilities. Parents of folks with disabilities are also getting in on the act, and must STOP! The decision to use absentee ballots should be up to the person with a disability, and no one else. Anyway, here is my response posted on the CDR forum:
Yeah, but what if you don’t want to vote absentee? What if you are able to get out and about in your community? I live only a few blocks from my polling place, and wouldn’t use an absentee ballot unless I were confined to my bed, or out of town. I want my community to see me, and know that I am a part of it, and that I vote.
I feel that some officials may be using the absentee ballot as a tool to convince people with disabilities to stay away from the polls. Actually, I have seen this happen on a number of occasions. They tell people with disabilities how convenient the absentee ballot is, and how they don’t have to go to the polls. Then they tell the community at large, or the media, or perhaps other officials that they have no access problems, or that there is no demand for access.
In my opinion, absentee ballots should be the last resort for people with disabilities, not the first. I can understand if a person is house-bound, or stuck away in some nursing home, or lives a long distance from their polling place, as is the case in some rural communities. Absentee ballots shouldn’t be used as a means for getting out of providing access to polling places.
According to some other posts that I’ve seen elsewhere, I am not alone in my sentiments. It’s time for officials and others who want to keep up hidden to wake up to reality–we are here, we’re not going away, and we VOTE!