2002 Voting Systems Accessibility Standards David Baquis, U.S. Access Board

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2002 Voting Systems Accessibility Standards
David Baquis, U.S. Access Board

• Elections Accessibility Conference
• Friday, February 20, 2004
• Trenton, New Jersey

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Scope of Topic

• Scope of the Voting Systems Standards (VSS)
  should not be confused with the scope of the HAVA
  Law
• These standards focus on the devices used for
  voting, not the polling place program or
  architectural accessibility
• At this time, a voting system refers to a voting
  machine such as a DRE, but the language could
  cover new and emerging technologies

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Why Accessible Voting Systems?

• According to NOD, approximately 40 million people
  with disabilities are of voting age.
• According to a Harris Poll, approx 41 of people
  with disabilities voted in the 2000 Presidential
  election. (Compared with 51 of all adults.)
• Most voting systems have been inaccessible to
  people with disabilities. These systems include
  punch card, lever, optical scanner, and paper
  ballot.
• In 2000, approx 1 of voting systems were DREs
  (computer systems disability friendly)

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Barriers for People with Disabilities

• According to a GAO report (10/01), 84 of polling
  places across the country were found to have a
  barrier that prevents a person with a disability
  from voting.
• HAVA addresses the needs of physical, sensory and
  mental disabilities. It specifically mentions
  visual disability. Typical examples of challenges
  with voting systems have included
• Strength needed to operate mechanical controls
• Dexterity needed to write
• Sight needed to input information and verify a
  vote
• Limited reach ranges for wheelchair users

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Role of the Access Board in VSS

• Voting Systems Standards were issued by the
  Federal Elections Commission in April 2002
• Access Board provided informal guidance to the
  FEC during the development of the standards.
• Access Board submitted public comments and
  testified before the FEC during a hearing.
• Access Board continues to provide technical
  assistance on the interpretation of the standards.

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Technology-specificAccess Board Experience

• In addition to standards and guidelines for the
  built environment, the Access Board issues
  standards and guidelines for technology.
• Specifically, it issued Guidelines for design of
  telecommunications products and services under
  Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of
  1996
• And it issued Standards for procurement of
  accessible electronic and information technology
  to help Federal agencies comply with Section 508
  of the Rehabilitation Act.

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Accessibility Considerations Specific to VSS
Development

• Voters will not be expected to bring assistive
  technology with them to polling places and
  install them on machines.
• Voters will have limited time during which to
  learn how to use the voting machines.
• Voters will not be expected to remember how to
  operate the machine from one year to the next.

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Examples of VSS Accessibility Provisions

• Audio version of ballot content
• Response time
• Touchscreens and mechanically operated keys
• Volume control
• Color/contrast settings
• Hearing aid compatibility
• Forward, high and downward reach
• Secondary means of voter authentication

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Use of the VSS

• The FEC VSS voluntary guidelines do not become
  standards unless the states require them as such.
• The independent testing authorities (ITAs) are
  expected to use the 2002 VSS when evaluating
  voting systems. They have a standing invitation
  to meet with the Access Board.
• The manufacturers are using the 2002 VSS in the
  design of new voting systems. However, they are
  faced with designing to both the FEC guidelines
  and state-specific requirements.

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Emerging Issues

• The Elections Assistance Commission has the
  authority to issue new VSS. That work would begin
  with the EAC Technical Guidelines Development
  Committee and could take a while.
• The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
  Engineers ) is in the process of developing
  engineering consensus standards for accessibility
  and usability of voting systems. This should not
  be confused with a government policy standard.
  It could be used as a basis for development of
  amended EAC VSS.

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What Can You Do?

• Comply with requirement for one accessible voting
  system per polling place by 1996
• Include information about accessible voting
  machines in information dissemination to all
  stakeholders including people with disabilities
• Include information about accessible voting
  machines in training to all stakeholders
  including elections officials and poll workers
• Inquire whether technical assistance provide by
  disability groups and enforcement provided by PA
  will consider voting systems access.

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Access Board role with the EAC

• 2 members to serve on the Board of Advisors. Of
  the 37 members listed, we are the only federal
  agency represented that has a full-time mission
  dedicated to serving the needs of people with
  disabilities.
• 2 members to serve on the Technical Guidelines
  Development Committee.

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Helpful Federal Agency Websites

• Access Board
• http//www.access-board.gov
• 800-872-2253 (voice) or 800-993-2822 (TTY)
• http//fecweb1.fec.gov/hava/hava.htm
• (Federal Elections Commission)
• http//www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/HAVA.htm
• (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• http//www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/hava/hava.html
  (U.S. Department of Justice)