CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Elections bosses: Disabilities won't stop Iowa voters

Ottumwa Courier - 7/28/2018

July 28--OTTUMWA -- A voting initiative started for veterans has also drawn appreciation from Iowa's disabled population.

"An estimated 300,000 Iowans of voting age have some type of disability," said Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate in a press release, "and studies show that people with disabilities are among the least likely to vote. I made it a goal to help those Iowans make their voices heard."

Local officials point out there is help for those with disabilities who want to vote. This year, for example, the Wapello County Auditor received new ExpressVote machines to make voting easier for those with physical impairment.

"They're really nice," said Deputy Auditor Danielle Weller, the elections deputy. "I asked some people if they wanted to try them out during the primary, and I received good feedback."

Actually, she said Friday, it's kind of fun to use, her sample group told her. And there's no disability required to use the machine. There will be one ExpressVote at each polling place.

"Anyone can use it. If you are blind there are Brail buttons, or they can listen to the ballot being read on it; there's a touch screen," said Weller.

You may have heard people told not to hang out at the same voting booth. But if it's because one party needs help from the other person, there is a way to do that.

"First, that person must fill out a Voter Requesting Assistance form," Weller said.

The secretary of state requires that poll workers in each county be trained, but some things come easy: As voters check in, the first people they meet at the polling place will possibly ask if they require assistance voting.

If they answer in the affirmative, Weller said, the poll computer automatically generates the form to sign. Or there are those who can't get out of their car either due to physical or emotional problems. That's not a bar to voting, either.

"Maybe somebody has a hard time getting in to the voting place; you would have the person vote in the car," said Weller. "To do that, two poll workers have to go out, a Democrat and a Republican; you may have to temporarily stop voting inside if there are not enough election workers, but it's OK."

Then, at the voters car, it's a miniature version of what it's like to go into a precinct. First, one poll worker verifies the resident's information, then the other hands them their ballot. The workers step away for a moment or two, and the voter let's them know when they are finished. A worker holds out the cardboard sleeve and the citizen slides in their ballot. Both workers, together, bring the ballot in and watch it being placed into the counting machine.

The Secretary of State's website, sos.iowa.gov/disabilities, provides "a one-stop shop to help Iowans with disabilities vote."

The secretary's previous press statement included a testimonial from advocate Steve Crew, chair of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council: "I would like to acknowledge the Secretary of State's support and willingness to partner with our Council to improve voting access to Iowans with disabilities."

Staff writer Mark Newman can be contacted at MNewman@ottumwacourier.com.

___

(c)2018 the Ottumwa Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa)

Visit the Ottumwa Courier (Ottumwa, Iowa) at www.ottumwacourier.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Nationwide News