Brandon Twp.-As far as Roger McCarville is concerned, this year is one more step toward equality in the voting booth.
McCarville, host of the PBS program ‘Disabilities Today,? publicized a ballot-marking machine on his show on Monday at the township offices. The AutoMARK provides privacy and accessibility to voters with disabilities.
‘For so long, people with disabilities couldn’t feel like a part of the community,? said McCarville, who was injured in a boating accident that severed both his legs 30 years ago.
Absentee ballots and assisted voting were the only ways some people with disabilities have been able to vote in the past.
‘They don’t want to be left out,? McCarville said. ‘This is inclusion.?
AutoMARK machines provide assistance to voters who are blind, vision-impaired, or have a disability or condition that would make it difficult or impossible to fill out a ballot in the usual way.
Each precinct has one AutoMARK machine countrywide.
McCarville spoke to his PBS viewers about the importance of people with disabilities making their voices heard in upcoming elections. People with disabilities make up a large voting block, but they’ve been eliminated because of accessibility problems, he said.
The AutoMARK will change that.
‘You can be totally paralyzed and use this machine,? said Jeannie McCreery, township clerk.
The machine has braille, reads back voting options audibly, and can be manipulated with a joystick. Paralyzed voters can use the technology as long as they can operate a sip and puff switch, which generates movements through breathing.
‘This is the technology of the future. No one is going to have to rely on another person to vote,? McCreery said.
Federal funds paid for the first machines, which have been available for a couple of years, McCreery said.
Each machine costs about $5,000.
Despite the advantages and the money being spent, voters with disabilities are not utilizing the technology enough, McCreery said.
Other area township clerks agree.
‘I’ve never seen or heard of a handicapped person using them,? said Faith Woolley, Atlas Township deputy clerk.
Woolley said her precinct allows voters without disabilities to use the machines when the lines get long.
Pam Mazich, Groveland Township clerk, said there is curiosity from voters about the machines, but they are too time consuming to be practical.
‘They’re big, they’re hard to move and it takes voters with disabilities 15 minutes plus to sit down and use them,? Mazich said.
McCarville said he hopes his show can encourage voters with disabilities to visit the polls and use the machines.