TechACCESS of RI: Fall/Winter 2002, Speaking for Ourselves

TechACCESSory (Fall/Winter 2002) Table of Contents

TechACCESSory
Fall/Winter 2002 Newsletter

Speaking for Ourselves
The following interview was conducted with a Braille ballot user, who wishes to remain anonymous.

The Kennedy/Nixon election in 1960 was the first time "Jane" voted. This first experience in voting was an intimidating one for her. She explains that back then, representatives from each political party accompanied a person who was blind into the voting booth. The representatives then read who was on the ballot for their respective parties. The voter had to tell the representatives how to cast their ballot and the representative from that party would cast the vote for them. When asked how this made her feel, Jane remembers being nervous about having people she didn't know in the booth with her and not knowing for sure that her choices were actually being made appropriately. This was the process for blind and low vision voters for several years.

Eventually, the process was changed, and voters were allowed to choose their own representative to accompany them into the booth. In Jane's case, this was her father. "We often spoke about politics and the candidates. I felt a lot more comfortable going into the voting booth with my father. I trusted him and I knew he would cast my vote as I wanted."

With the introduction of the Braille ballot in 2000, Jane was able to vote independently and privately for the first time. "I feel that it is the obligation of each United States citizen to vote. It is something you do for your city, state and your country. Braille ballots allow blind citizens to do this on their own and in private."

When asked how the Braille ballots work for her, Jane admitted that the ballot is a bit long and involved. She hopes that in the future the Braille ballots will be more concise and a little less involved. Until then, she will continue to do what she considers her civic duty, and vote using the Braille ballot.

If you or someone you know would like more information on Braille or tactile ballots, call the Secretary of State, Elections Division at 222-2340. The deadline to request a Braille or tactile ballot for the November 5 election is September 23.

Jane began losing her eyesight at age six. By the time she reached fourteen, she had lost her sight completely. She completed her high school education in Cranston, and then attended Perkins School for the Blind.