SB2503 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB093 17928 JAM 43611 b

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2003 and 2004
SB2503

Introduced 2/3/2004, by John J. Cullerton

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Accessible Voting Technology for the Blind Act of 2004. Requires that the State Board of Elections ensure that the voting technology and systems throughout the State provide blind and visually impaired voters access and privacy equivalent to that provided to other voters. Applies to equipment and technology as it is procured, upgraded, or replaced. Grants injunctive relief to a person injured by a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning voting technology.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Accessible Voting Technology for the Blind Act of 2004.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Access" means all of the following:

(1) The ability to retrieve all of the information contained in the ballot.

(2) The ability to retrieve any instructional information necessary for the effective casting of the ballot, in the form of audible prompts, online help, recorded materials, knowledgeable officials, or other appropriate methods.

(3) The ability to make and verify all selections contained in the ballot, including write in selections.

(4) The ability to move freely through all the information contained in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), including, but not limited to, the ability to move both forward and backward through all items, the ability to skip items, the ability to determine the spelling of words, and the ability to control the speed of synthesized speech.

"Privacy" means the same level of secrecy of the ballot and voting process that is accorded to all voters, using visual and nonvisual means.

"Nonvisual" means synthesized speech, Braille, and other methods of information retrieval not requiring sight.

Section 10. Requirements for accessible voting technology and systems.

(a) The State Board of Elections shall require (by certification or otherwise) that the voting technology and systems used by the State or any political subdivision provide blind and visually impaired individuals with access and privacy, that is equivalent to that provided to individuals who are not blind or visually impaired, including the ability for the voter to cast and verify all selections made by both visual and nonvisual means.

(b) In requiring nonvisual access pursuant to subsection (a), the State Board of Elections shall obtain recommendations from representatives of blind consumer organizations, experts in accessible software and hardware design, and any other individual or organization the Board determines to be appropriate.

Section 15. Existing technology and systems. Compliance with this Act in regard to voting technology and systems purchased prior to the effective date of this Act shall be achieved at the time of procurement of an upgrade or replacement of the existing equipment or systems.

Section 20. Action for injunction. A person injured by a violation of this Act may maintain an action for injunctive relief to enforce the terms of this Act.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.