Voters are told not to enlarge the ballot

Shelby County Election Commission fails to adequately accommodate voters

By Christina Clift

(MEMPHIS, Nov. 1) Do you see what I see?  On Wednesday October 17, 2018 early voting began in Shelby County and ends today.  In our county, voters who use screen magnification to cast their vote have run into problems. 

Tennessee state law requires that the two major parties’ candidates be at the top.  However, if a voter enlarges the print on the Shelby County ballot, candidates running for governor appear in a single column and the major party candidates are not listed at the top. 

Shelby County Election Commission was not aware of this problem before early voting started.  To remedy the problem, voters are told not to enlarge the print ballot and are supposed to be given a hand-held magnifying glass.

“The election Commission should do their job and ensure that the large print ballot works,” said Michael Heinrich. “And not do a half-assed effort in ensuring accessibility during such an important event.” 

For those of you who do not use hand-held magnification devices to read printed documents, they are like buying a pair of shoes.  Each person likes a different style. Some people prefer lighted magnifiers, some like round ones, others like rectangular ones, and some prefer magnifiers with no light.  Our Election Commission is mistaken to believe that providing hand held magnifiers to read the ballot will solve this problem.  

 “It’s like the blind community’s vote didn’t matter,” said Stephanie Jones.  “It discourages the blind from getting out to vote.”

Over the past few months the Memphis Center for Independent Living and other disability organizations reached out to the election Commission to express their willingness to help educate the public about the accessibility features of our voting machines as well as provide training to their staff.  But the Commission did not accept the offer for free assistance and instead may face expensive lawsuits and complaints.  

Now is the time when the average individual can let their voice be heard.  Races that will be decided include the U.S. House of Representatives, US Senate, gubernatorial races, state legislatures, and a slew of local offices.  

Early voting also called pre-poll voting or advance polling is a process by which  voters in a public election can vote prior to the scheduled election day.  

While the problem of the appearance of the ballot for screen magnification users has been identified, the Election Commission has stated that they do not plan to fix it.  So voters are left with only two options: either, use a hand-held magnifier that might or might not help, or do not vote independently and get sighted assistance to help.  

In my opinion, this violates the spirit of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) even if it doesn’t technically violate it.  So please do not let the Election Commission stop you from voting and force them to do the jobs they’re payed to do.  We must hold them accountable not only on November 6, 2018, but by speaking up on this blatant disregard for the needs of blind voters.