Wisconsin Approves the Vote-PAD Assistive Device

[kster]

Posted by Wilms




By Vote-PAD Press Release

January 31, 2006

Port Ludlow, WA - Vote-PAD, Inc. is proud to announce that the Vote-PAD (Voting-on-Paper Assistive Device) has been approved by the Wisconsin State Elections Board for use in hand-counted paper ballot municipalities.

After meeting with U.S. Department of Justice attorneys, Kevin Kennedy, Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Elections Board, announced the state’s approval of the Vote-PAD. Mr. Kennedy said the attorneys spent considerable time looking at the device and asking questions about its use in the voting process. It was indicated, he said, “that they did not see anything that should stop Wisconsin from proceeding with approval.”

The Vote-PAD is an inexpensive, non-computerized, voter-assist device that helps people with visual or dexterity impairments to independently and privately mark the same paper ballot as other voters. The Vote-PAD was developed to help small towns and counties comply with the accessibility requirement of the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. It allows them to continue administering elections the same way they have in the past.

Ellen Theisen, President of Vote-PAD, Inc. and developer of the device, said, “We are delighted! One of our immediate goals was to offer the small Wisconsin municipalities a low cost, low tech, reasonable alternative to electronic voting. This approval is a real win for the small communities and for the state of Wisconsin.”


http://www.votetrustusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=862&Itemid=51

[Wilms]

1. Brad's got it.

Vote-PAD Approved for Use by State of Wisconsin after Conferring with U.S. Dept. of Justice!

State Announces Approval of Disabled-Accessible Voting Device After 'Considerable Time' Spent Examining Matter with DoJ Attorneys!

Paper-Ballot Voting Solution Seen as Inexpensive, Secure Alternative to Faulty, Unreliable Touch-Screen Voting Machines...

by Brad

2/1/2006

Vote-PAD, the simple plastic and paper voting device meant to assist voters with disabilities and provide a countable paper ballot as an alternative to the expensive, insecure, un-recountable, hackable Electronic Voting Machines made by companies such as Diebold and ES&S, has just been approved for use by the state of Wisconsin!

According to a just-issued press release (posted in full at the bottom of this item), Vote-PAD, which derives it's name from "Voting-on-Paper Assistive Device", is announcing that the Wisconsin State Elections Board has approved the device for use in the state after conferring with attorneys at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Recently we reported on the Vote-PAD, describing it as a simple, non-electronic voting device that "could save American democracy." The company had just announced their first contract with Yolo County, California at the time. The new announcement by Wisconsin represents the first full state to announce their approval of the Vote-PAD device for use by disabled voters.

The Wisconsin announcement notably includes information on clearance for use of the device after consultations with attorneys in the "Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice," according to an email obtained by The BRAD BLOG. The email was written by the executive director of Wisconsin's State Elections Board, and will likely kick national interest in Vote-PAD into high gear...

snip

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002362.htm

[msongs]

2. today wisconsin, now, ON to california nt

[Wilms]

3. Yolo County, CA is already planning on using it.

But I'm guessing there may be a little legal wrangling over it.

Given the availability of Vote-PAD, I think that the certification process for Diebold, at least, ought to be dropped.

But I'm biased :evilgrin:

[Ellipsis]

4. Excellent news.

:toast:



Designing a more usable world for all.
http://trace.wisc.edu/

[kster]

5. kick.nt

[mod mom]

6. someone asked me if it needs a central tabulator-anyone know the answer?

[Wilms]

7. If I got it right...

...all Vote-PAD does is help you fill out a paper ballot.

That being the case, it seems one could use Precinct OR Central Op Scan...or good old fashioned Hand Counting.

[mod mom]

8. thanks. nt

[freedomfries]

9. a cheap and clever little device

http://www.vote-pad.us/brochure.pdf

[Einsteinia]

10. Yes, votes still get processed like

the votes at the precinct

[Wilms]

11. .