It’s Election year, and November 5, Election Day, is not so far away! Did you know that there are 4 different in-person voting systems in place throughout the state?

Depending on which county you live in, the way that you use the voting system will be slightly different. But there is good news — each voting system is certified to be accessible to voters with disabilities. And finally, if you would rather cast your vote by mail, there is also Remote Accessible Vote By Mail (or RAVBM) available for all voters in California.

Let’s have a look at the accessibility features of each voting system, so that whether you decide to vote by mail or in person, you can be prepared!

Russell Rawlings, Community Organizing Manager, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

The majority of the state uses Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast Evolution. The following California counties use Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast Evolution: Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Marin, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yuba.

This voting system is operated by a touchscreen ballot marking device. The device has the ability to be operated by a remote control (known as an accessible tactile interface or ATI) with options to connect to sip and puff or paddle switch controls for those who are not able to access the touchscreen, and the ability to provide screen reading and audio navigation for blind or low vision voters.

Here’s a great video produced by Missouri’s Developmental Disability Council demonstrating the use of the Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast Evolution.

The second most widely used in-person voting system in California is the Hart InterCivic Verity Voting System. The following California counties use Hart InterCivic Verity Voting System: Calaveras, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Nevada, Orange, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Stanislaus, Trinity, and Yolo.

This voting system is based around a paper ballot that can either be filled out by hand or with a ballot marking device. Similar to the ImageCast Evolution, the Verity Voting System also supports screen reading and audio navigation, as well as the ability to navigate via an accessible tactile interface (ATI) with the ability to connect to external switches or a sip and puff control.

Here’s a video also from Missouri’s Developmental Disability Council demonstrating the use of the Hart InterCivic Verity Voting System.

The third in-person voting system in use in California is the Election Systems and Software ExpressVote. The following Counties use the Election Systems and Software ExpressVote: Alpine, Amador, Lassen, Merced and Modoc.

This system is also a touchscreen-based ballot marking device that supports screen reading and audio navigation, and includes an accessible tactile interface (ATI) that has the ability to connect to external switches or a sip and puff control.

Election Systems and Software has excellent information on the web demonstrating its accessible features, including both a video demonstration and written information on accessibility.

Additionally, here’s a video demonstrating the Election Systems and Software ExpressVote from Missouri’s Developmental Disability Council.

The fourth and final voting system in use for in-person voting in California is Los Angeles County’s Voting Solutions for All People (VSAP). This system is only available for in-person voting for registered voters in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County’s VSAP system is also a touchscreen-based system with audio navigation and a built-in accessible tactile interface with the ability to connect to external sip and puff and switch based controls. There is quite a bit of information about the VSAP system located on the Los Angeles County’s Election Office.

Los Angeles VSAP has also developed a video poll worker training for assisting voters with disabilities. This video includes a demonstration of the VSAP system’s accessibility features in addition to its function as an education tool for poll workers at election sites.

And finally, all voters with disabilities in California have the ability to access the Remote Accessible Vote By Mail (RAVBM) system. This system will allow voters to access an electronic version of their ballot on their computer, using their own assistive technology to help mark their ballot. Afterward, the system will allow voters to print a page with a special scannable code that is returned in the same manner as a mail-in ballot.

Here’s an informational video from Disability Rights California on Remote Accessible Vote By Mail:

If you choose to use Remote Accessible Vote By Mail, it is required that you contact your County Elections Office (here is a list of phone numbers and websites for County Elections Offices) to ask for specific instructions on how to access and complete your ballot.

While this may seem like an overwhelming amount of information, if you’re a first-time voter, there is help available! Your County Elections Office is more than happy to assist with demonstrating equipment, and if you encounter barriers to voting, Disability Rights California maintains a statewide phone hotline that you can call for help: (888) 569-7955 (voice) or (800) 719-5798 (TTY). Assistance is available in languages other than English upon request.

Just a few more quick things to help you along the way — here are some important dates for the upcoming election:

• September 6: The California Secretary of State Voter Information Guide will be available online.

• Between September 26-October 15: County Elections Officials will mail County Voter Information Guide to registered voters

• October 7: County election officials will begin mailing a vote by mail ballot to all registered voters

• October 8: Early Voting locations will open, and all counties will open ballot drop off locations. You can find information about early voting on the Secretary of State website.

• October 21: Last day to register to vote (in order to be mailed a ballot). However, same-day voter registration is available through November 5.

Also, the League of Women Voters of California will be publishing an Easy Voter Guide that will help you understand some of the complex ballot initiatives and propositions. Disability Vote California, a coalition comprised of California Foundation for Independent Living Centers DOnetwork program, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disability Rights California and The Arc of California also shares voter information and education opportunities for the disability community via its website.

We hope that this resource has helped you feel able to get out and vote on November 5 (or sooner)! As Justin Dart, a lifelong, fierce advocate of disability rights once said, “Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does!”

As always, we are here to help. To connect with us at the DOnetwork, drop us an email at [email protected]