Image via WikipediaIntroduction:
The Primary and General elections are right around the corner. If you are a voter with a disability, who is registered, to vote, you will have a new way to vote. Thanks to the Help America Vote Act, every county in New York State was required to purchase a new voting system that allows people with various disabilities to vote independently and privately, this is the Ballot Marking Device (BMD).
In New York there are two types of BMDs; the AutoMark and the ImageCast BMD by Dominion Voting Systems. If you live in Albany, Schenectady, New York City, Erie or Nassau Counties you will use the AutoMark. Please see the New York State Board of Elections’ website to learn more about that system.
If you live in the 52 other counties you will have the opportunity to use the ImageCast BMD.
This guide contains supplemental instructions and information for blind and visually impaired voters using the ImageCast BMD.
The ImageCast BMD has three ways to navigate the ballot in order to accommodate voters with various disabilities.
• The Audio Tactical Interface, (ATI) is a keypad that was designed for voters who are blind or sighted voters who have good hand dexterity and want to navigate the ballot in the most efficient way. It allows you to both see the ballot on a screen and hear the ballot through headphones. You will have a choice on which works best for you.
• The paddle buttons are designed for voters with very little hand dexterity. It allows you to both see the ballot on a screen and hear the ballot through headphones. You will have a choice on which works best for you.
• The sip and puff were designed for voters who have no use of their hands or feet. It allows you to both see the ballot on a screen and hear the ballot through headphones. You will have a choice on which works best for you.
For voters who are visually impaired or blind who will vote on the Image Cast BMD using the ATI:
Before You Go to Your Polling Site, Be Aware:
1. If this is your first time voting on the new technology, your voting session may take longer than you expect. Make arrangements with your ride for up to an hour at the polling place. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from the poll worker.
2. You will use a keypad called the Audio Tactical Interface (ATI) to mark a paper ballot and you will be guided by the audio feature of the BMD.
Before the Voting Session Begins:
1. Let the poll-worker know that you would like to use the Ballot Marking Device and you want to use the ATI.
2. If you have a visual impairment, it is recommended that you keep the screen on as well as the audio track. This will give you the benefit of using both sight and hearing as you navigate the ballot. Make sure that the font is the correct size for you. It can be enlarged as you listen to the instructions on the audio track or the poll worker can use the zoom buttons on the BMD.
3. If you have no sight, it is recommended that you ask for the screen to be turned off. This preserves the privacy of your vote and the audio track of the voting session will be more logical for you. However, if you have a problem with your voting session, you will need to give the poll worker your headphones so they can assist you.
4. Ask the poll worker to give you the headphones before the voting session begins so you don’t miss any of the instructions on the audio track.
5. Ask the poll worker for the ATI and familiarize yourself with it before the session begins.
6. Ask your poll worker if this election has propositions to vote on. Any propositions will be on the second page of the ballot. When you reach the end of the ballot, press the right pointing triangle also known as the next contest button, to move to the propositions.
7. In the audio track you will notice pauses. Please be patient with the pauses.
Navigating the Ballot and Selecting Candidates:
1. When pushing the buttons on the ATI-press hard for one second. Practice this before your voting session begins.
2. When pushing the buttons to make your selection, there will be a delay before the system responds to you. Please do not keep pushing the buttons. The machine will tell you when your vote has been registered.
3. If you don’t press a button to make a selection within 20 seconds, the instructions will begin again.
4. On the ATI, the triangles that point left and right move backward and forward through the list of contests. The instructions will tell you when to push these triangles.
5. Once you get into the contest such as Governor or LT. Governor, there are arrows on the ATI that point up and down. These move through the list of candidate names. There are no instructions to tell you to press these buttons. If you get confused press the green button and ask for help.
6. At the end of the session, your ballot will be printed out. You will then have the choice of inserting the ballot in the scanner yourself or asking the poll worker, who will use a privacy sleeve, to insert it in the scanner for you.
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