Testimony to be presented as if read into the record 23 August 2005:

Commissioners, The present, 2002 Voting Systems Standards, were a good product when they were written but they are now woefully out of date as I am sure you can agree. Technological requirements have required that the 2002 VSS be updated. There are now requirements in over 50% of the states that there be a voter verified paper audit trail (vvpat) and there are no voting systems standards by which an ITA can test the voting systems that include printers for the vvpat. This need must be addressed in the newly presented voting systems standards.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 mandates accessibility standards for voting systems to allow voters with disabilities to vote in private and without assistance when possible. These standards have been greatly misunderstood and have now been clarified by the EAC Commissioners in their advisory that was issued on July 20, 2005. They should now be clear and unequivocal to everyone. Section 2.2.7.2 of the 2002 Voting Systems Standards must be followed. Voting systems must be accessible, as much as possible, to voters who may be amputees, quadriplegics, severe arthritics, and those who have other mobility impairments. These are proper and honorable requirements.

Pursuant to the advisory mentioned above, the 2002 Voting Systems Standards Section 2.2.7, and HAVA the following changes must be made to the proposed voting systems standards:

Volume One Section 2.2.7.1.3.4 - Replace "should" with "shall". The primary requirement of Section 2.2.7.1.3 states “The voting process shall be accessible to voters who lack fine motor control or the use of their hands". This standard must be a mandate and not a voluntary situation which would violate HAVA accessibility standards and is in disagreement with the Section 301(a) advisory.

Volume One Section 2.2.7.1.2.1.8 – Replace “should” with “shall”. Buttons and controls on Acc-VS must always be distinguishable by both shape and color to allow blind and sight impaired voters to vote without assistance.

Volume One Section 2.2.7.1.2.2.6 - The feed for audio verification for the blind voter must come from the vvpat printer or printer feed and not from the Acc-VS. Anything else does not provide the blind voter the same ability to verify their vote.

Volume One Section 6.8 – VVPAT standards should be under Section 2 “Voting System Functional Capabilities” and not under Section 6 “Security”

Volume One Section 6.8.2.2 - Change "should" to "shall". Font size must be an option for the voter for the elderly and those with sight impairments. Without this those who may have sight impairment may not have the same ability to verify their ballot as those who have no sight impairments.

Volume One Section 6.8.3.5 - Change "should" to "shall". HAVA requires that disabled voters have the same voting rights as those who are not disabled. The feed for the verification MUST come from the printer or printer feed and NOT the DRE. Without this blind voters lose their ability to verify their ballot.

Volume One Section 6.8.4.3 – Change “should” to “shall”. For the purposes of reconciliation of records, electronic and paper spoiled records should be retained and analyzed. This should not be a choice.

These changes will ensure that voters with disabilities have the ability to vote without assistance as much as possible. It should not be the choice of the voting machine industry whether or not they will provide accessibility devices/technology. It must be the voters who have the right to choose whether to use, or not use, technology that is offered.

Thank you for this opportunity.

John Gideon

Information Manager, VotersUnite.Org and VoteTrustUSA