|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Marinan, Communications, 612-910-9111
Hennepin County Elections invites media to a public demonstration of accessible voting technology at Minneapolis Central Library. Voter outreach and education staff will be available to provide additional information, answer questions, and provide interviews.
When
- Wednesday, September 11
- 4-7pm
Where
- Minneapolis Central Library - Room N-280
300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
- Room N-280 is located on the skyway level
What
-
Hennepin County Elections and REV UP MN will be at the Minneapolis Central Library to demonstrate the accessible ballot marking machines and answer questions about accessible voting.
-
New voting technology can display ballots in large print or with a high-contrast background. They can read the ballot to voters through headphones, and voters can fill out their ballot using a Braille keypad, touchscreen or sip-and-puff device.
Who
- Hennepin County Elections
- REV UP MN
Background Information on Accessible Voting
There are many ways to get help when you vote. You can bring someone to help, ask an election judge, use a machine to help you mark your ballot, vote from your car, or use an accessible absentee ballot.
You can bring a family member, friend, neighbor or anyone you choose to help you vote. The only exception is that you can't get help from someone from your employer or from your union. Helpers are not allowed to influence your vote or share how you vote with others. Election judges are also available to help. If you need help marking your ballot, two election judges from different political parties can assist. They are not allowed to influence your choices or tell others how you voted.
All polling places in Hennepin County have a ballot marking machine that can mark a ballot for you. It gives you privacy if you cannot (or choose not) to vote using a pen. The machine has a screen that displays the ballot in large print or with a high-contrast background. It can also read the ballot to you through headphones. You can fill out your ballot using a Braille keypad, touchscreen or sip-and-puff device. After you make your choices, it prints your completed ballot.
If you cannot easily leave your vehicle to enter the polling place, you can ask to have a ballot brought out to you. Two election judges from different major political parties will bring out a ballot to your vehicle. When you are finished voting, they will bring your ballot inside and put it in the ballot box.
Voters with print disabilities may request an accessible absentee ballot. Print disabilities are disabilities that interfere with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed materials.
Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at hennepin.us/news.
|
