Blind voters sue Maryland Board of Elections, alleging discrimination at ballot box

[TexasTowelie]

The National Federation of the Blind has filed a federal lawsuit against the Maryland Board of Elections, alleging blind voters are being discriminated against at the ballot box.

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and three individual voters ― Joel Zimba and Ruth Sager of Baltimore and Marie Cobb of Catonsville ― say in a suit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court that they and other blind voters are being denied their right to cast a secret ballot at the polls as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

At issue is how Maryland accommodates voters who are blind. Since 2016, the state has maintained two voting options: a default option of paper ballots, which blind voters cannot use, and a voting machine accessible to blind voters that electronically marks their choices and then prints paper ballots.

But the machines, called Ballot Marking Devices, print a paper ballot that is different in shape and size than the default paper ballots most voters use. “Thus, when only one voter uses the [Ballot Marking Device] in her precinct, her ballot becomes easily identifiable, destroying the secrecy of her vote,” the lawsuit states.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-blind-election-lawsuit-20190803-b3grd2ey4rhvzajc4p4rkzt7hm-story.html

[murielm99]

1. My husband helps a disabled man vote.

I know most of the differently abled like to be as independent as possible. But maybe this is a better way.

My husband filled out some paperwork with the county clerk and he signs something whenever he helps his friend vote. He fills in the ovals for the man without comment.

Election judges can help, too. I know this destroys the secrecy aspect, but maybe it is a better way, too.