State Rolls Out New Voting Machines

Rose Prescott is almost 60 years old.

She is blind.

She lives on her own. Cleans her house on her own. Buys her groceries on her own. Travels on airplanes alone.

But until now, she hasn't voted alone.

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6:42 I was just so excited that I could put that headset on and listen...I don't know what else to say about it. I was excited and happy. And when I left, I went 'yoo-hoo!' they probably thought I was a little bit too exhilarated about it.

Unlike the narrow voting booths with the red, white and blue curtains, the accessible booths look like a small white pup tent.

The wheelchair insignia marks the booth's entrance.

Inside you find a phone, a fax machine, a table, a chair and a lamp.

To use the new machine, a voter picks up the phone, dials in a code and is read the ballot.

To vote, a person follows the prompts just like any other automated phone system.

After making their selection, the fax spits out the filled-in ballot.

Assistant Secretary of State Tom Manning says the system isn't perfect, but thinks it sends an important message to voters with disabilities.

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1:40 it's welcoming to them. It's big, it's clean, it's new. It's logoed for them. It gives them the message that they are welcome. We appreciate the fact that you are coming, and we are ready for you.

The new system cost the state almost $400,000 dollars a year.

And the state will continue to pay about $250,000 dollars a year to rent the technology.

For the few hundred that are expected to vote in the accessible booths, one could ask if that's a good use of tax payer dollars.

Manning, for one, is convinced.

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3:45 stop and think about it, you think about all we spend money on in this country, talk about the bridges to nowhere. This may be expensive, but it's not a bridge to nowhere.

Rose Prescott says there may be a few hundred people who use the new booths this year, but predicts that as word gets out, the number will only grow.

For NHPR News, I'm DG.