Montana relies on outdated technology for disabled voters

MISSOULA, Mont. - The May 25 special election is a little more than two weeks away, and voters are already dropping their ballots off at polling stations around the state.

The Missoula County Fairgrounds is one of many polling stations in Missoula. Dozens of people registered to vote and dropped off their ballot Tuesday afternoon. But for some people dropping off a ballot or casting a vote isn't as easy.

Election officials are supposed to have AutoMARK machines at every polling station to help the disabled. The machine provides autonomy to voters who are blind, visually impaired or have a disability or condition that makes it difficult to traditionally mark their ballot.

The AutoMARK is even capable of helping anyone who's quadriplegic. In that case a person would use a device called a "gooseneck." It allows a person to use a technique called "sip and puff," which allows the person to blow air into tubes hooked up to them machine. By doing that the person can navigate through options on the machine.

Missoula resident Grace Decker says it shouldn't be hard for anyone who is disabled to vote.

"We should be making it as easy as possible," Decker said. "Of course I know the elections offices are already feeling a little bit strapped, so I am sure that it's tough for them to figure out how to make it easier, but it's something as a county and a city we need to prioritize."

The machines that are currently being used in Lake, Deer Lodge, Anaconda and Ravalli counties date back to the early 2000s. The technology that keeps those machines running dates back to the late 1990s.

Missoula County Elections Administrator Rebecca Connors says they are in need of an upgrade.

"The machines are really old, and I can't imagine anybody at home still using a computer from the 1990s," Connors said. "It's kind of like using a flip phone when today we have an iPhone."

Connors says the cost of an AutoMARK today is around $1,400. The new technology they eventually want to upgrade to costs around $3,200.

Connors says the elections office would have planned in their fiscal budget to invest in new machines, but money isn't the issue.

Current law states all Montana ballots must be the same size. The new technology creates a ballot a quarter the size of a Montana ballot. An amendment that would have helped election offices around the state upgrade to new machines and work around the law died after the legislature ended the session.

Missoula resident Nancy Serba says even though the amendment didn't pass anyone who is disabled should still vote.

"I hope people that are handicapped and that are in need of help would still come in and vote," Serba said.

Connors says one reason some disabled people don't come in to vote is because they lose their sense of secrecy.

"If somebody is needing assistance to help mark their ballot they lose the secrecy of how they voted, and that's sacred when it comes to elections," Connors said.

In the November election last year Connors said around 20 people came in to use the AutoMARK. She says that may not seem like a high number, but she says compared to Miami, Florida, where millions of people live, only 12 people in a large election used an AutoMARK.

Connors says in the next few years they hope to upgrade to new machines.