Has anyone heard this pro-DRE position yet?

Here in NY, we will probably NOT have paperless e-voting. No one from either party wants it that I'm aware of (but of course stranger things have happened).

Currently the debate seems to be whether to allow DREs at all (with VVPATs), or just use Op Scans with paper ballots.

One of the arguments for the DRE is that in rural areas where they can get by with one machine per polling place, that machine must still be accessible to the disabled. The options would therefore be an accessible DRE or an Op Scan with a ballot marking device such as Automark. I have been told that under this scenario, with one machine per polling place, the DRE option is cheaper. I have not verified this. (An Automark with hand counted paper ballots would probably work too, but that's another issue, IMO.)

When I brought up the fact that it takes a long time to vote on a DRE, and this could require more machines than anticipated, the example of push-button (as opposed to touch screen) DREs was brought up. These are supposed to be designed to simulate lever machines, which take only 20-30 seconds to vote on and therefore can accommodate hundreds of voters a day. I hadn't considered that DREs could be non-touch screen, but I'm sure it's possible and they do exist. (Why use a touch screen in the first place? They can be very flaky!)

So has anyone had experience with non-touch screen DREs? Is a single machine really cheaper, with VVPAT printer and accessible features for the disabled, than a single Op Scanner and an Automark? Are they being manufactured or marketed by anyone?

(No links please. I can search google, etc. as easily as the next guy. I'm looking for the answers or personal experiences if anyone happens to have them.)

Thanks!

I wouldn't be surprised if its another Diebold lie.

Hang on, I'll be back when I have the straight dope. If I can't get it you may need to ask Bo Lipari, though.

Bo has been duly notified, but I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Mythbreakers on VotersUnite.org

all that crap about DREs being the only type of machine accessible to handicapped is, uh........ crap.

it's one of the untold stories of this whole mess. Many BOEs will say that they went for DREs because an organization representing handicapped people demanded it. I guarantee there's a story there..

Need to check that out, esp. since it was withdrawn!

The issue here was about cost though.

In MythBreakers they acknowledge (I recall as a footnote) that there is not a commercially available paper-based system to provide access AND secrecy for SOME mobility-limited voters. (Except, perhaps, for that ES&S "Ballot sleeve", that I think is new.)

It's just some of these voters. And DRE opponents rarely acknowledge or even know this. Yet, it's the only complaint the pro-Dre disability advocates can come up with. And they've ridin' it well.

I really am concerned that our failure to address this head on has left us punching in the dark.

(Note: Perhaps that ES&S "Ballot sleeve", that I think is new, will solve this.)

I believe that Diebold gave $100,000 to a blind-advocacy group; perhaps some
strings were attached? "Ya know whut ah mean..."

I question the 20-30 seconds to vote on claim. In states with huge number of offices and ballot measures the time would be a lot more. In the county I was in in the early 90s they had a push button DRE type machine. Scrapped it after only two election cycles for tabulators because they were so prone to mechanical failure. That's almost 12 years ago and the glitches may have been worked out. And for election conduct purposes (reporting software) it would be hard to have two types of equipment in use at the same time such as push button DREs and tabulators.

Could anyone sue them, or would it have to be a disabled person from the particular precinct?

And what's the worst that can happen? Buy a DRE to settle, or $/fines?

person out there who would like to sue someone,ask a lawyer if you could sue a company who uses "disabled" to sell a product or voting machine to sell their voting machine on false pretenses.