Franklin County Voters: Come check out the new voting machines!

July 10, 2019 by DRO Intern Natalie Wysocki and DRO Communications & Outreach Manager Stacy Brannan-Smith / voting

Franklin County has new voting machines with new accessibility features!

This year the Franklin County Board of Elections (BOE), with help from the state legislature, purchased new hybrid voting machines. The machines allow voters to print out a paper ballot, which is then fed into a ballot counter unit. They can also fill out a pre-printed paper ballot if they choose.

For voters who are blind or vision impaired, the machines' screen reading capabilities allow the user to speed up and slow down the reading pace and easily make selections on a specially designed keypad. They can then cast their ballot directly on the machine if they choose, rather than printing the paper ballot.

Check out video demonstrations of the new machines and their ADA features on the Franklin County BOE website.

Want to check them out in person?

In an effort to educate and inform Franklin County voters, Disability Rights Ohio is partnering with the Franklin County BOE to host a hands-on voting machine demo event:

5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 7
Franklin County Board of Elections
1700 Morse Road
Columbus, OH 43229

The Franklin County BOE will show off the new machines, including the accessible features. In addition, they will explain how to use the new remote absentee ballot marking tool, which was rolled out in November 2018 for voters who are blind or have print disabilities. Representatives from Disability Rights Ohio will also discuss voting rights, including our voter hotline.

Refreshments will be provided, so be sure to RSVP online and help us spread the word by sharing the Facebook event page.

For more information, contact Stacy Brannan-Smith, DRO's Communications & Outreach Manager, at sbrannan-smith@disabilityrightsohio.org.