July 26 marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Thirty years ago, we sought to empower a group that has been historically denied a voice in civic society. While this important milestone marks how far we’ve come since 1990, there is still work to be done — we must ensure all Americans with disabilities can exercise their right to vote.
Astoundingly, the voting landscape today still prevents many people with disabilities from casting a ballot. In our previous newsletter, we highlighted the acute challenges that people with disabilities face — both at the polling station and in exercising their right to a secret ballot with vote-by-mail.
Researchers who study election platforms have published reports and provided testimonies discouraging election officials from exploring voting options that might actually make a difference for people with disabilities. The result is that the people most likely to be affected remain invisible and voiceless — beginning, first, with the research itself that doesn’t take their experience into account.
What would it take to guarantee people with disabilities the ability to vote?
This group already successfully uses smartphone technology to live independent lives. Extending the option to voting online is an organic — and necessary — next step.
It is disheartening to note that there seems to be a reluctance to focus on the challenges facing this community, especially given that they are a primary focus for this technology, and are one of only a select group of people that can use it. When it comes to secure access to the vote, we need to put more faith in technology.
We urge researchers to reconsider their approach — especially when the implications of their research and assertions mean the end of viable voting options for 61 million adults in the United States who live with a disability.
Right now, another draft study about internet voting is in the works, and it still does not address accessibility nor include the input from people with disabilities. Several experts continue to research and provide opinions about the feasibility of election platforms. While they are unwavering in their support for in-person voting and mail-in ballots, we are confident they would arrive at different conclusions if their study included experiences of people with disabilities.
Representation is necessary in these studies and testimonies. Every study on election platforms should have a section on access, with an obligation to listen.
Doing it any other way undermines the legacy and guiding principles of the ADA.
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Pro V&V recently completed comprehensive testing of the Voatz Remote Accessible Ballot Delivery, Marking and Return (RABDMR) System covering the following areas:
- Usability
- Accessibility
- Security
- Functionality
- Accuracy
A summary of the report has been made public on the Voatz website, along with a link to the full report. This is a milestone for Voatz—one of many assessments that have been planned for this year and beyond as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
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Many assert categorically that “Internet voting” is not secure, but this blanket statement does not consider the recent developments in technology, nor the differences in security across internet-based voting platforms.
Bottom line: Voting using an app on your smartphone is NOT the same thing as voting on an internet web browser on your smartphone or computer.
We’ve outlined a comparison below to depict the security differences between a voting app and a voting website.
Read more on our blog here →
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See Voatz’s Whitepaper published at the 2020 NASS Summer Conference
Voatz recently submitted a white paper to NASS, calling for a comprehensive study focused on defining the security and functional requirements for apps designed to receive the appropriate blank ballot, enable marking of the ballot, and assure the return of a ballot using a commercial off-the-shelf computer. This study should consider if these apps can take full advantage of the security features of the platform, while being able to verify the voter, secure their markings of the ballot, encrypt & guarantee the return of the marked ballot all while assuring the anonymity of the voter. A well-executed and transparent study of remote ballot marking will provide comfort and confidence to citizens and other stakeholders that the systems that states are choosing to deploy meet rigorous federal government guidelines and widely accepted standards.
Read More →
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Contact us if you want to join our security webinar
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