Voting help for disabled vets

Efram Ramirez

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the Georgia Tech Research Institute, and the Operation BRAVO foundation came together and launched a project to help disabled veterans access the voting system.

Brad Fain, a technical director at Georgia Tech, explained Military Times that problems such as visual and hearing loss, emotional distress, and amputation have made it hard for some veterans to vote. Many disabled veterans have trouble accessing the ballots because of physical, emotional or mental limitations.

Technology is the key factor in breaking down the barriers. Without being able to do a complete overhaul of the voting system, the researchers are making smaller changes. For example, they are making the ballot text more legible and improving ballot display technology for those who have trouble touching the screen. Another procedure proposed is a system allowing veterans to request ballots via email, as well as an electronic tool that allows veterans to use devices like a computer mouse to mark ballots.

"The veterans come back with injuries that last [a] lifetime, but that does not mean they cannot become productive citizens," said Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz. He told the news outlet that he believes it is the government's "absolute" responsibility to make policies that help deliver these new voting technologies.

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