Missouri now requires paper ballots. Being blind doesn’t mean you can’t cast your vote

Voting is my responsibility as an American, and I take it seriously whether it is a local, state or national election. Because I am blind, I was over 50 years old before I ever had an opportunity to cast an independent and private ballot. Until then, I had to have someone else read and mark my ballot for me if I wanted to vote.

Well, it was certainly liberating when I voted in that first election after federal law required that every precinct have at least one accessible voting machine. And now, whenever I’m afforded the opportunity to read, mark and cast my own ballot independently, I am more confident that my vote reflects my personal views. This is particularly important to me in these times of political polarization.

I am always extremely disappointed when I vote to learn that I am the only person who has ever used the accessible device at my precinct. The equipment used today is a called a ballot marking device. Its technology allows voters to navigate the ballot and select their choices on their own. The user can enlarge the print on the screen, listen to audio to read the ballot over headphones, or use both large print and audio together to read and mark their ballots. After reviewing their selections to be sure everything is just as intended, voters just need to press “print” on the machine to generate a paper copy of their ballots.

Although ballot marking devices are useful for anyone who is blind or has low vision, the machines also have built-in features that help those with other disabilities. However, this equipment is underutilized and many people who could benefit from using the equipment do not even realize how ballot marking devices can help them read and mark their ballot.

The ballot marking device is one of the best kept secrets of our election system, and as a leader in the National Federation of the Blind, I want to shout it to the world that no one should unknowingly give up the right to cast a private and secure ballot.

There are many advantages of using a ballot marking device. There is no chance that anyone will overvote by filling in too many spots in the same race, or that of risking votes not being counted by not completely filling in the circle for their choices. Ballot marking devices alert voters if they have not made a selection in any race on the ballot, and then give them the opportunity to go back and do so. The machines give voters the opportunity to review their choices before printing out their ballots. Votes are not cast on the machines, which only mark and print out ballots for the voters to insert into the same deposit box as those filled out by hand. Ballot marking devices therefore comply with H.B. 1878, declares the paper ballot as the official ballot of Missouri and went into effect earlier this year.

If you or a loved one has an eye condition or medical condition that makes it difficult to cast your vote independently and privately, you should be able to obtain information about using a ballot marking device from your local election board or county clerk. You can also contact the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri at nfbmo.org or at 816-679-5258. Every Missourian deserves the same right to participate in our elections fairly and securely.

This story was originally published November 3, 2022 at 11:32 AM.