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Voting Accessibility Workshops. August 2008 Maria Elena Williams and Candi Rhinehart. What is a Voting Accessibility Workshop?. The purpose of the workshops were to provide information about the accessibility of voting 5 workshops were held across the state
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Voting Accessibility Workshops August 2008 Maria Elena Williams and Candi Rhinehart
What is a Voting Accessibility Workshop? • The purpose of the workshops were to provide information about the accessibility of voting • 5 workshops were held across the state • The workshops were funded by HAVA grants
What did we do at the workshops? • Voting Accessibility ... Where We are in North Carolina • NCSBE Training Video • Elections staff and pollworkers discussed the progress of disability accessibility and assistance to voters • Citizens and advocates voiced concerns about accessibility
What is our role in Accessibility? • Requiring Accessible Polling Places • Obtaining Accommodations as to the Voting Procedure • Ensuring Designation of Voter Registration Agencies and Provision of Voter Registration Assistance
What is your role in Accessibility? • To assure accessible polling places • To train pollworkers on accessibility including accessible voting equipment • To complete polling place accessibility surveys and photos (phyllis.whitaker@ncmail.net)
Citizen Feedback • Citizens not aware of availability of accessible voting or voter assistance • Pollworkers unable to explain or demonstrate voting equipment • Curb cut blocked by Curbside Voting • Voter information and ballot confidentiality at Curbside Voting
What can we do? • NCSBE developed a brochure on Voting Accessibility and Need Assistance? buttons • Train at least one pollworker thoroughly on accessible voting equipment • During set-up make sure curb cut will in no way be blocked • Stress to pollworkers that curbside voters have the same rights as those who vote in the precinct