FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Gene Newton or Frank Garcia, Jr.
Secretary of State, Elections Division, Help America Vote Act
Gene: 503-986-1506; Frank: 503-986-1527
Fax: 503-373-7414
Email: gene.a.newton@state.or.us 
www.uhavavote.org 
www.oregonvotes.org 


Accessible Voting Systems Vendor Fair Slated for April

Salem, OR, March 17, 2005 - People with disabilities will be able to vote privately and independently by 2006 thanks to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).  To help the Secretary of State make decisions on just how that is going to happen, the HAVA Disability Subcommittee will host a vendor fair for those companies developing and/or producing voting systems that are accessible to people with disabilities.  

The vendor fair will be held on April 4, 2005, from 8 AM to 4 PM in the State Capitol Galleria in Salem, OR.  At this time there are 10 vendors who have expressed interest in or have committed to participating in the event.  These vendors represent companies that are creating a variety of solutions to make voting accessible to people with disabilities. There will also be opportunity to register to vote. 

Congress passed HAVA, in October 2002 to make sweeping reforms to the nation's voting process. The Act addresses improvements to voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 Presidential Election. It includes provisions to ensure that voters with disabilities are provided the opportunity to vote privately and independently and to have equal access to the process.

Gene Newton, HAVA Program Officer, chairs the Disability Subcommittee and is coordinating the event with the help of committee members and the Oregon Cross Disabilities Coalition (ORCDC).  
The membership of the HAVA Disability Subcommittee is made up of people with disabilities, county clerks, election officials and advocates. The subcommittee has been tackling many difficult issues over the last year. They have made recommendations and implemented projects and programs for such things as alternate formats (for example, Braille, audio tape, large print, etc.) for publications and forms, improved accessibility of county clerk offices and county web sites, provided disability awareness training for county election officials, and a host of other issues. 

Developing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to purchase an accessible voting system that allows people with disabilities to vote privately and independently will demand much of the subcommittees' effort for the next year. "Our work on the RFP will be directed toward developing a comprehensive list of required and desirable functions of any accessible voting system that will be purchased by the state. The vendor fair is a large step in meeting this task", said Mr. Newton.  He also stated that the HAVA Team would be working with agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities to ensure statewide attendance.   
  


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Accessible Voting Systems... (page 2)

Frank Garcia, Jr., HAVA Manager, commented on the importance of the vendor fair.  "The vendor fair will provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to have hands-on opportunities to try out several technologies that claim to provide voting accessibility. Having it in the capitol also provides us an opportunity to heighten the awareness of legislators, the public, and other advocacy groups."  

If you are interested in attending please contact your local organization for more details or call 1-866-ORE VOTES (1-866-673-8683).

Contact:  Gene Newton or Frank Garcia, Jr.
Phone:  503-986-1506 or 503-986-1527
Fax: 503-373-7414
Email: gene.a.newton@state.or.us 
www.uhavavote.org 
www.oregonvotes.org