Lever Voting Machines: Blocking People with Disabilities’ Right to Vote

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Jessica Thurber

Lever Voting Machines: Blocking People with Disabilities’ Right to Vote

Despite an outcry from various disability rights organizations in New York, on August 11, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill (A.09321A/S.07371A) permitting the use of outdated and inaccessible lever machines in local elections until December 31, 2015. In response, the Center for Disability Rights (CDR) sent out a press release on August 15, expressing disappointment in Governor Cuomo’s decision to sign the bill, essentially blocking people with disabilities’ right to vote.

From the press release: “Voting is a basic right and all citizens should have the opportunity to vote in the same matter. Because voters with disabilities have experienced discrimination and segregation throughout history, the federal government passed two additional laws that solidify the rights of people with disabilities to vote – the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Help America Vote Act. Legislators and the Governor continue to violate our rights by repeatedly passing a bill that allows municipalities to use lever voting devices instead of accessible Ballot Marking Devices in local elections.”

In response to the Governor’s decision, Justin Young, a blind voter said: “Accessible voting devices is important to every member of the disability community. I am disappointed with Governor Cuomo’s decision to sign the bill that would allow lever voting machines to continue to be used, considering that they are inaccessible to people with disabilities.”

Production for lever machines ceased in 1982 and as a result, replacement parts are hard to come by. We cannot help but wonder why we are using “a dinosaur” of a voting machine for our most important right as a U.S. Citizen, especially when it prevents people with disabilities from successfully and privately casting their ballot. This is disenfranchisement.

Lever machines are notorious for being inaccessible to people with disabilities; for those with visual disabilities, ballots are unreadable and for those with physical disabilities, levers are difficult or impossible to operate.

“It’s disconcerting how our ‘representatives’ continue to discount the civil rights of people with disabilities. It would appear our elected officials couldn’t care less. Once again, we’ll have another issue to remember when we go to vote this November,” said David Sutliff-Atias, Assistant Director of Advocacy of CDR.

This is one of the many reasons why CDR established the New York Disability Vote Network (NYDVN). The goal is to build a well-connected disability voting bloc and as a large, coordinated group we can more successfully prevent bills like A.09321A/S.07371A from passing.

Are you new to the NYDVN? Continuing reading to learn about why you should join the movement.

What is the NYDVN? NYDVN is a nonpartisan voting initiative geared towards people with disabilities in the state of New York. Thanks to a grant from ACCES-VR, the project was established by CDR in the summer of 2013. There are four parts that make up the NYDVN:

  1. The steering committee
  2. Partner organizations
  3. Voters with disabilities
  4. Allies/volunteers

Together we work to build, solidify, and unify a large disability voting bloc in New York. We do this by growing and maintaining a database of voters with disabilities (goal: 5,000 sign-ups) and informing them of important voting information via several means. We also connect with dedicated, like-minded organizations and share resources.

Who can join? If you are a person with disabilities and over 18 years old living in New York State, YOU! If not, that’s fine! You can still join as an ally or volunteer.

Why should I join? The bigger the network, the more power we wield as a community. With more political clout, we can enact positive changes in state policy. You will also get important voting-related information. Start making a difference today by joining the NYDVN!

How do I join? There are two ways:

  1. You can join online by filling out the application at: http://www.nydvn.org/individual-signup
  2. You can fill out a hard copy and fax to 585.546.7577 or mail to: Center for Disability Rights | ATTN: Jessica Thurber | 497 State Street | Rochester NY 14608

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