The Roving Activist’s Blog

Here is an Action Alert that I have responded to. Please do so, as well. 

SSAN Action Alert

November 27, 2007

Write Letter to The Daily Star in Support of HAVA

ISSUE:

An article published on November 27, 2007 in The Daily Star, reports on New York compliance with HAVA and the upcoming decision by Federal District Judge Gary Sharpe to mandate accessible voting machines in every polling site. Please scroll down to read “Poll Access for Disabled Heats Debate” or access the following link: http://www.thedailystar.com/local/local_story_331073146.html .
In the article, Otsego County Democratic Elections Commissioner, Hank Nicols, makes the following argument:

However, Nicols said he doesn’t believe the county needs to install a ballot-marking device in every polling station.

“I think that would be an enormous waste of money,'’ he said. Most disabled people prefer to vote by absentee ballot, not in polling places, he said.
Nicols noted that only one disabled person cast a ballot with the county’s current ballot marker during the last election.
“With so few people wanting to use ballot markers, we’d be better off driving them in limos to use the one we have,'’ he said.

ACTION:

We need to let Mr. Nichols know that people with disabilities do not want to vote using absentee ballots! People with disabilities have a civil right to vote on an accessible machine!

Mr. Nichols was in his current position when the Catskill Center and AG’s office sued his county for inaccessible polling places. Too bad he hasn’t learned anything!
Please send letters to the editor to: (Note: limit 300 words)
Letters can be e-mailed to letters@thedailystar.com, submitted through this form, faxed to 607-432-5707, mailed to The Daily Star, P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820
You MUST provide contact information so they can confirm your letter with you.

RA’s Note — Here is the letter that I wrote:

No Absentee Ballot for me!

Hello,

My name is Anita Cameron, and I live in Rochester. I read about the comments made by Hank Nicols, Otsego County Democratic Elections Commissioner, regarding people with disabilities and absentee voting. Mr. Nicols stated, “Most disabled people prefer to vote by absentee ballot, not in polling places.” Let me tell you what I think of this:

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 homebound, in a nursing home, or is out of the state or country. Absentee ballots shouldn’t be used as a means for getting out of providing access to polling places. That is what I feel that Mr. Nicols is doing. How dare he presume to speak for me! If he were truly interested in the opinions of people with disabilities, he could have conducted a poll. Through that, he could have found out why only one person with a disability showed up at his polling place.

Mr. Nicols, I am a person with a disability who prefers to go to the polls and vote.  I want people to see me, and know that I exist. More important, it is my civil right. Stop making excuses, and do what is required by HAVA!

Anita Cameron
Rochester, NY

No Segregated Voting Machines — Final Update

Brad Williams, of NYSILC, sent in this final update about our No Segregated Voting Machines Action Alert. Five of us from Rochester attended the meeting yesterday. Thanks, Brad, for all of your hard work!

Action Alert - Final Update

Our collective actions have paid off!!! The State Board of Elections (SBOE) voted today 3-1 to approve proposal # 1 of the ballot marking device procedures, allowing any registered voter to use an integrated approach for these one per county devices and sites for the upcoming primary and election days. Congratulations!

Around 15-20 advocates attended the meeting. Lawyers for Governor Spitzer, a representative from DOB, and the Assembly Elections negotiator were also present. The SBOE then explained that they had to go into executive session related to the HAVA lawsuit. They hoped to reconvene and, if productive, be able to make progress on the ballot marking devices for 2008. I had to leave the meeting to complete filming for our documentary.

Lew Dubuque, Center for Disability Rights Policy Analyst, called me later in the day to report that SBOE reconvened and voted to take a position on ballot marking devices for 2008. They are looking to take a significant step forward and make one ballot marking device available PER POLLING PLACE in 2008! This is a major victory! CONGRATULATIONS!

Perspective

We stood strong and fought back a negative ballot marking device procedure proposal. The boldness of our language, the volume of our response (500 letters in such a short period of time), and advocates at their meeting showed others that the greater proposal for 2008 was worth fighting for.

The state has committed to its first major HAVA compliance measure to date to the disability community - at least one voting machine per polling place must be accessible.

This measure is hardly a token gesture - estimated at $40 MILLION DOLLARS!

Realize that this is just the start. It is going to take a lot of hard work to implement. However, it is far better than being shut out of the process. They are now listening to us and are beginning to respond to our needs.

Brad Williams, NYSILC

RA’s Note: In case you’re curious about that 3-1 vote, it was Commissioner Kelleher, author of Proposition 2, who voted against us. he tried to make excuses for why he put forth the segregationist proposition, then, voted against Proposition 1! What a guy, eh? NOT!!!

Here is the link to the webcast of the meeting:

http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,1,35_8534:35_62319&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

ACTION ALERT UPDATE

In a response to a communication sent to the New York State Board of Elections this morning, Peter Kosinski agreed to take proposal # 2 by Commissioner Kelleher off the table today!

This is a big victory for the disability community and for all citizens who want to use the ballot marking devices. We want to thank all of you who advocated for this change for your efforts. We believe that proposal # 2 will be formally dropped at the Thursday SBOE meeting and that proposal #1 by Commissioners Kellner and Aquila will be adopted. We also believe that there may be discussion raised on Thursday about expanding the ballot marking devices to one per polling place in 2008.

ACTIONS

·       Stop submitting letters to the SBOE regarding the ballot marking device procedures. This includes suspending the CDR Capwiz letter writing action alert.

·       We should still make sure that we have some advocates present at the SBOE meeting on Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 1 pm. It is obviously something that is easier for those who are in proximity of Albany. SBOE is located at 40 Steuben Street in Albany, NY 12207. Their section of Steuben Street is pedestrian. It is located between North Pearl and Chapel Streets. You can access North Pearl Street from State Street. The meeting is usually held on the third floor.

·       For those of you who cannot make the meeting, you can watch and/or listen to the meeting on the NYSBOE website via a web cast at the following link:

http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,1,35_8534:35_62319&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
 
Again thank you for your assistance with this successful action.

Brad

RA’s Note:

Several of us from Rochester will be going to Albany on Thursday to attend the meeting. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

This is an Action Alert from Brad williams, of NYSILC. Please respond to it! We want the NYS Board of Elections to know that the disability community opposes segregation in ANY form, and that includes voting machines! 

ACTION ALERT

Today is a new day! We now have this down to just an argument over whether the sites and ballot marking devices can be integrated and used by any registered voter in each county (which we support), or segregated to people with disabilities (which we oppose). At this time, if we respond with a strong, similar message in volume, we will probably get them to rule in our favor.

ACTION

As a result, CDR has provided the following link to their interactive advocacy website. It is programmed with a message to be sent on this issue to the State Board of Elections (SBOE). All you have to do is click on the link below:

http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=10164001&type=CU&show_alert=1

When you are on their site, you will have to fill in the fields (boxes) with your personal information. If needed, clear the box if it contains a previous person’s information. “Prefix” provides a drop down menu for (Mr. Mrs., etc.). You then insert your information into the appropriate box for your first name, last name, email, address, city, state, zip and telephone number. You can ignore the zip+4. You can send the message just as it is, or add to it if you want. When you are ready to send the message, simply click the “Send Message” button at the bottom of the screen. The program will do a mail merge and send a fax to the SBOE in a letter format! It will also send an email version to the SBOE general mailbox in the event they shut off their fax. It is important to only send one letter per person.

We will keep you informed if a result is achieved.

Brad

PS — If you live out of state, don’t worry, you can still respond. Several people from around the country (including my Mum, in Tacoma, WA) have completed the Alert.

SSAN Action Alert

May 22, 2007

National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)

Voting Survey

ISSUE:

The NCIL Voting Rights Work Group of the Civil Rights/ADA Subcommittee wants to know what voting is like for you in your area of the country. 

ACTION:

Go to the Catskill Center for Independence (CCFI)’s link to the survey from their website (www.ccfi.us):

Survey on Voting for People with Disabilities

Fill out the Survey.

Click Submit.

Here is mine…

Do you vote by mail, early voting, or at you polling place on Election Day?: Yes

Are you able to get in the polling place? : Yes

Have you ever been allowed a private, unassisted ballot? If so, what type?: Yes

Type of private, unassisted ballot:

I was given a paper ballot back on one occasion. Though I could have used some assistance, I stubbornly refused, and completed the ballot on my own. It took me upwards of 30 minutes. In 2004, when I lived in Washington, DC, I had the opportunity to vote using a DRE (electronic voting machine). I liked the electronic voting machine much better because I was able to vote unassisted, and it was quite easy! I was able to cast my vote in 5 minutes, instead of 30. I love the DRE’s, and despite the stories of problems experienced by some people with disabilities with the machines, I, personally, had no problems using them.

What is your disability: I have severe visual impairments, and I use a wheelchair due to Multiple Sclerosis and osteoarthritis.

Please include anything else you feel is important.:

For many years, I have been fortunate to live either next door to a polling place, or within 4 blocks of one. Each of the polling places were wheelchair accessible. For the past 17 years, I have served as either an Election Judge, poll worker, or Election Inspector. I have done this in every state that I have lived in. In 1990, I was the first person with a disability to serve as an Election judge for the City and County of Denver, and was able to get the board of Elections to provide training materials in alternative format.

In Washington, DC, I served as a poll worker, and recruited other people with disabilities to serve as poll workers. In 2006, I was asked by the DC Board of Elections and Ethics to help train poll workers and precinct captains in disability awareness and etiquette.

I must say for the record, that I prefer electronic voting machines to paper or optical scan machines. While I do not like the idea of a VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail), I do feel that security and access are very important, and should not be mutually exclusive. The VVPAT must be accessible to people with disabilities! At present, there are problems associated with VVPAT that must be addressed and remedied. If our great nation can send a probe to Pluto, surely, someone can design a DRE with an accessible VVPAT!

There is a trend that I have noticed among poll workers, and even some election officials in certain areas of the country, notably, Washington,DC, though this issue has finally been addressed there. That is, people with disabilities are being encouraged to vote via absentee ballot, instead of going to their polling place, even when it is close to the voter’s home, and is wheelchair accessible. I personally met election officials who felt that if they got people with disabilities in their area to vote absentee, they would not have to make the polling places in their precincts accessible, or deal with people with disabilities. This is an illegal practice, and must end! People with disabilities have the right to vote at their local polling place, if that is their wish.

My final remark is this: People with all types of disabilities should not only be encouraged to vote, but should be encouraged to serve as poll workers, Election Judges, Election Inspectors, Technicians, and Precinct Captains. This would not only involve us in the political process, but would dramatically reduce the incidents of discrimination and maltreatment at the polling place that many people with disabilities have reported. When people see those of us with disabilities participating in the political process on multiple levels, they are less likely to see us as objects of pity or derision, and more likely to view us as neighbors. I, myself, have experienced this first-hand!

Thank you,

Anita Cameron

Regional Center for Independent Living

Rochester, NY

Bob, from SWPA sent out this note to Stephanie regarding the survey that SWPA/Tripil did on some of the polling places in their area. Bob drops by now and then, so I know that he won’t mind me helping to spread the word.

Here is the link to the front page newspaper article about our county’s polling places published on Sunday October 29, 2006. We surveyed 141 polling places out of 185 in our county using a HAVA survey tool created in Harrisburg, PA. We submitted our results two weeks ago to the county election office. We plan to progressively approach county commissioners, state legislators and senators, congressmen and senators depending upon respones and results.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=31581&SectionID=6&SubSectionID=15&S=1

I read the article. Keep up the good work, SWPA!

The New Standard is an online newspaper whose focus is on social justice issues, including those that affect people of color, people with disabilities, women, and immigrants, as well as environmental issues. Reporter Catherine Komp was doing some research on the Internet for her article on barriers to access that people with disabilities are confronted with at the polls, and came across this humble space. She contacted me for an interview, which I was happy to give. Here is a link to the story, which, in my opinion, is quite good. There is also a link back to this blog in the “Related Reading” section. Thanks for the link!

http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3822

Thanks, Catherine, for your interest in this important issue, and thanks also for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts and experiences.  

I attended a debriefing on Thursday at the DC Board of Elections and Ethics on the state of access by the disability community during the September Primary. In attendance were myself, Bill O’Field, Jim Dickson, with American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Amy Metzel, with University Legal Services (ULS), the local Protection and Advocacy agency, Tracy Warren, and Laura White. We discussed some major problems that voters with disabilities encountered at the polling places, and what the Board of Elections could do to resolve them. Amy Metzel presented a report from ULS. The report stated that:

1. Poll workers often did not utilize the access at certain poliing places.

Often, accessible entrances, particularly at schools, were locked, and poll workers did not bother to ask maintenance personnel to unlock these doors. It was agreed that the Board would communicate with maintenance personnel itself to make sure that this does not happen in the future.

2. In some cases, signage indicating the accessible entrances to polling places was either nonexistent, or confusing.

It was suggested that during the set-up of the polling places, the precinct captains would be required to fill out an accessibility checklist, and sign off on it, making them accountable if simple and do-able accessiblity measures are not met. the Board and the disability community will also create a cadre of disabilty advocates and activist who will visit each polling place on the day before Election Day to make sure that the sites are accessible.

3. Poll workers did not know how to use the electronic voting machines.

Currently, the Board offers poll workers the opportunity to practice on the electronic voting machines during training. I suggested that this be a mandatory part of the training rather than elective, and cited the fact that the state of Maryland already does this. The Board agreed to the suggestion. This would be especially helpful for seniors and others who may feel uncomfortable with electronics and computers, as a staff member will be present to answer their questions and address their concerns.

4. Curbside voting is being used as an excuse not to make polling places accessible.

Poll workers at several polling places have been encouraging voters with disabilities to use curbside voting so that they won’t have to deal with accessibility requirements. Both the Board and the disability community are angry over this. The Board stated emphatically that it wants to do away with curbside voting for a number of reasons, and will be agressive in emphasizing this during upcoming poll worker trainings.

These are just a few of the concerns and problems that were discussed during the debriefing. Some of these problems comes down to a simple matter of the prevailing societal attitude of poll workers and precinct captains. Though there has been some improvement, especially in the area of etiquette, there is still a ways to go. A combination of education, and holding polling place staff accountable will help greatly. I feel that the Board is very sincere in its efforts to make Election Day a positive experience for voters with disabilities. They were extremely receptive to input from the disability community, and will continue to work closely with us.

Well, its been another week, or shall I say, ten days! On Thursday, the 7th, I did my last poll worker sensitivity training with Laura White, of the Inclusion Institute. That was fun! I also took pictures for a guide that the EAS will be putting out.

Before I took off for the day, I decided to vote, since I would not be able to do it on Tuesday. I did vote for Marie Johns. Though she didn’t win, I think that she did run a good race.

I then went home, and did some puttering about, then, packed and rested up for the ADAPT Youth Summit, and the 5 day ADAPT action that would follow. Both were amazing!

Stay tuned for the details…

Last Tuesday and Thursday, I attended a poll worker training put on by the DC Board of Elections and Ethics, but this time, I was there not as a participant, but a presenter!

It all started two years ago, when I attended the trainings for the presidential primary and General elections. At those trainings, a video dealing with voters with disabilities was shown to the participants. I wasn’t really satisfied with the video, and of course, opened my big mouth to my friend, Bill O’Field, who has, among his many dutues at the Board, the responsibility of setting up the trainings. I told Bill that I thought that the video was going into one ear of the trainees, and out the other, and suggested that perhaps the Board should consider using real people with disabilities as presenters. I felt that the audience would pay more attention, ask questions, and ultimately, gain more from the training.

Bill called me while I was in Denver to let me know that the Board had put my suggestion into practice, and were using real folks in their presentations. He wanted to know if I would be willing to do a training, first with the poll workers and precinct captains, then, with the technicians who would deal with the electronic voting machines, which are accessible to people with disabilities. Of course, I jumped at the chance to do this, and on Tuesday, did my first presentation.

I began with an introduction, and told the audience a bit about my background, and thanked them for their commentment to serve as poll workers or precinct captains.

As part of the presentation, I referred the participants to the poll workers training manual, and explained that the sensitivity instructions were common sense items. Voters with disabilities should be treated as they, themselves would want to be treated–with courtesy, respect, and dignity. Speak directly to the voter with a disability, and not to their assistant, family member, interpreter, or friend. Do not pet, or otherwise distract a service animal. Keep a clear and open path in the polling place. Do not make assumptions about the intellectual abilities of voters with disabilities.

I soke of, and showed the trainees the audio system for voters with visual impairments, as well as the accessible doorbell for polling places that do not have automatic doors. I spoke of the importance of having all accessibility-related signage in place so that voters with disabilities would know that the polling place is accessible. I let the attendees know that the District leads the nation in that all but one of its 142 precincts are accessible to voters who use wheelchairs, and that this is due to the partnership between the Board of Elections and Ethics and the disability community. We should take pride in this fact!

Some of the things that I spoke of were not in the training manual. I instructed trainees that when assisting voters with paper ballots, to mark exactly where the voter says! Do not comment loudly about the voter’s choice–this takes away the person’s right to a secret vote. Do not try to coerce the voter into changing his or her mind about their vote. Finally, do not assume that since a voter cannot see, or read that you can mark any candidate as you see fit, contrary to the voter’s specifications. These acts constitute vote fraud! Unfortunately, this happens quite often to voters with disabilities. Do not suggest to voters with disabilities that in the future, they should consider absentee, or curbside voting because it is more convenient. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public places, including polling places to be accessible, and it is up to the voter how he or she chooses to vote. Frankly, it is extremely empowering to get out into the community and be seen participating in the political proccess!

I then spoke about poll workers with disabilities, explaining that we are colleagues and team members. I advised precinct captains to allow us the right to choose our assignments, as we know our own abilities. I also advised the captains that when the team comes in on Monday to set up the polling place for the following day, to encourage and allow team members with disabilities to help out. Don’t allow us to stand (or sit) there looking pretty. After all, we are full and participating team members, and should be treated as such.

I then gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions. “Don’t be shy”, I admonished. “The only silly question is the one that isn’t asked”. The participants asked many good questions, so many that the session had to be cut short. I told the trainees that I would be availabe for questions at the end of the day’s session.

I then went to the technician’s training session. Bill was conducting this, along with a colleague. He introduced me, and I got started. This was a smaller group, so it was a bit cozier. I abbreviated my presentation, and opened early for questions, telling the trainees that more than likely, they would have questions about things that I hadn’t touched on. they, too, asked many good questions.

Afterwards, Bill went with me to the elevator, and asked me if I could do another training on Thursday. Of course, I agreed. Being friends, we chatted a bit, then, Bill returned to his class, and I went back downstairs.

Thursday’s training was much like Tuesday’s, except that we kept to the 15 munite guideline. The audience participation was still quite good, though, and many shook my hand as I left. The technician’s training was much the same as Tuesday’s training, and afterwards, Bill handed me an envelope that contained a couple of responses to the survey that is given after each training. He thought that I might like them. I did. One of the questions on the survey was, “what did you like most about the training?” One trainee responded, “Anita’s speech”. In the section marked “other Comments”, another participant remarked ” Anita gave some very good information on assisting the challenged voters at the polls. She is an asset to the team.”

I was asked by Gwen, one of the lead trainers, if I could come back next Thursday and do another training. i told her I would, if there was no one scheduled to do it. I spoke to Bill about it, and he will check to see if anyone is scheduled, and get back to me.

What was great about both trainings was that there were several folks with disabilities in the audience. One was my friend Angela Miller, who is a Capitol Area ADAPT member, and another was my colleague on the Elderly and Disabled Transit Advisory Committee, Jerome Parsons. There were others who I didn’t know. I think that this is really great, and with the continued efforts of Bill, Jim Dickson at AAPD, and activists like myself, there will be many, many more folks with disabilities who will be poll workers, and perhaps, even precinct captains, and technicians.