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Florida Accessible Voting Case Goes To Trial From Inclusion Daily Express -- disability rights news service October 2, 2003 By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA--Last week, the first case of its kind in the United States went to trial in Jacksonville. Three voters with disabilities, backed by the American Association of People with Disabilities, are suing Duval County and its Supervisor of Elections, John Stafford, for not making it possible for them to vote independently and privately -- as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs claim that Stafford's office violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it purchased optical scanning voting equipment in 2001, rather than touch-screen machines. Touch screens have audible features for voters who are blind or do not read, and allow voters with limited mobility to use a touch stick or other device to touch the screen to cast a ballot. During their testimony, the plaintiffs told Senior U.S. District Judge Wayne Alley that voting has been a degrading experience for them. "Each time I went to vote, I was treated differently than other people. It was humiliating and embarrassing," said Pam Hodge, 42, who is blind. Stafford took the stand Friday, testifying that the plaintiffs may have a legitimate complaint. He told the court that he has several accessible voting systems ready, but that they are waiting for certification by the state. Federal law requires accessible voting systems in all election precincts by 2006. The plaintiffs in this case want voters with disabilities to be able to cast a private ballot in all 268 Duval County precincts by the March 9 presidential primary. Alley, a visiting judge from Oklahoma, said Tuesday that he is considering retaining jurisdiction after he rules on the case so he can monitor the progress of the county and state in providing accessible balloting equipment.
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Be sure to check out "Inclusion Daily Express" at www.InclusionDaily.com
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