(1) Notwithstanding any
other provision of this article 5, each voting system certified by the secretary of
state for use in local, state, and federal elections must have the capability to accept
accessible voter interface devices in the voting system configuration to allow the
voting system to meet the following minimum standards:
(a) The voting system shall provide a tactile input or audio input device, or
both.
(b) The voting system shall provide a method by which electors can confirm
any tactile or audio input by audio output using synthetic or recorded human
speech.
(c) Any operable controls on the input device that are needed by electors
who are visually impaired shall be indicated in braille or otherwise discernible
tactilely without actuating the keys.
(d) Devices providing audio and visual access shall be able to work both
separately and simultaneously.
(e) If a nonaudio access approach is provided, the voting system may not
require color perception. The voting system shall use black text or graphics, or
both, on white background or white text or graphics, or both, on black background,
unless the secretary of state approves other high-contrast color combinations that
do not require color perception.
(f) Any voting system that requires any visual perception shall allow the font
size as it appears to the voter to be set from a minimum of fourteen points to a
maximum of twenty-four points before the voting system is delivered to the polling
location.
(g) The voting system shall provide audio information, including any audio
output using synthetic or recorded human speech or any auditory feedback tones
that are important for the use of the audio approach, through at least one mode, by
handset or headset, at high volume and shall provide incremental volume control
with output amplification up to a level of at least ninety-seven decibel sound
pressure level.
(h) For voice signals transmitted to the elector, the voting system shall have
an adjustable audio volume that meets the requirements used in Colorado for
certification of a voting system.
(i) If the voting system can exceed one hundred twenty decibel sound
pressure level, a mechanism shall be included to reset the volume automatically to
the voting system's default volume level after every use, such as when the handset
is replaced, but not before. Universal precautions in the use and sharing of headsets
should be followed.
(j) If sound cues and audible information such as beeps are used,
simultaneous corresponding visual cues and information shall be provided.
(k) Controls and mechanisms shall be operable with one hand, including with
a closed fist, and operable without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist.
(l) The force required to operate or activate the controls may not exceed five
pounds of force.
(m) Voting booths shall have voting controls at a minimum height of thirty-six inches above the finished floor with a minimum knee clearance of twenty-seven
inches high, thirty inches wide, and nineteen inches deep, or the accessible voter
interface devices shall be designed so as to allow their use on top of a table to meet
such requirements. Tabletop installations shall ensure adequate privacy.
(n) Audio ballots shall meet the following standards:
(I) After the initial instruction from an election official, the elector shall be
able to independently operate the voter interface device through the final step of
casting a ballot without assistance.
(II) The elector shall be able to determine the offices for which the elector is
allowed to vote and to determine the candidates for each office.
(III) The elector shall be able to determine how many candidates may be
selected for each office.
(IV) The elector shall have the ability to verify that the physical or vocal
inputs given to the voting system have selected the candidates that the elector
intended to select.
(V) The elector shall be able to review the candidate selections that the
elector has made.
(VI) Before casting the ballot, the elector shall have the opportunity to
change any selections previously made and confirm a new selection.
(VII) The voting system shall communicate to the elector the fact that the
elector has failed to vote for an office or has failed to vote the number of allowable
candidates for an office and require the elector to confirm his or her intent to
undervote before casting the ballot.
(VIII) The voting system shall warn the elector of the consequences of
overvoting for an office.
(IX) The elector shall have the opportunity to input a candidate's name for
each office that allows a write-in candidate.
(X) The elector shall have the opportunity to review the elector's write-in
input to the voter interface device, edit that input, and confirm that the edits meet
the elector's intent.
(XI) The voting system shall require a clear, identifiable action from the
elector to cast the ballot. The voting system shall explain to the elector how to take
this action so that the elector has minimal risk of taking the action accidentally, but
when the elector intends to cast the ballot, the action can be easily performed.
(XII) After the ballot is cast, the voting system shall confirm to the elector
that the ballot has been cast and the elector's process of voting is complete.
(XIII) After the ballot is cast, the voting system shall prevent the elector from
modifying the ballot cast or voting another ballot.
(o) Ballot marking devices shall meet the following standards:
(I) The elector shall be able simultaneously to view ballot choices on a high-resolution visual display and to listen to ballot choices with headphones.
(II) The elector shall be able to listen to ballot choices in complete privacy
and to turn off the visual display.
(III) The ballot marking device shall have multiple output connections to
accommodate various headsets so that the elector is able to use the headset
provided with the ballot marking device or his or her own headset.
(IV) The elector shall be able to mark the ballot card in complete
independence and in accordance with federal and state law on mandatory
accessibility for persons with disabilities.
(V) The ballot marking device shall allow a blind or visually impaired elector
to vote in complete privacy.
(VI) The ballot marking device shall have a completely integrated input
keypad containing commonly accepted voter accessibility keys with Braille
markings.
(VII) The elector shall be able to enter ballot choices using an assistive
device, including but not limited to a sip and puff device and a jelly switch.
(VIII) The elector shall be able to magnify the ballot choices on the visual
display and to adjust the volume and speed of the audio output.
(IX) The ballot marking device shall have multiple language capability.
(X) The elector shall have the opportunity to input a candidate's name for
each office that allows a write-in candidate and to review the elector's write-in
input, edit that input, and confirm that the edits meet the elector's intent.
(XI) The elector shall be able independently to review all ballot choices and
make corrections before the ballot card is marked, including by receiving a
replacement ballot if the elector is otherwise unable to change the ballot or correct
an error.
(XII) The elector shall be able to verify, visually or using the audio interface,
that the ballot card inserted into the device at the start of voting is blank and that
the marked ballot card produced by the ballot marking device is marked as the
elector intended.
(XIII) The ballot marking device shall alert the elector before the ballot is
marked that the elector has made an overvote, as defined in section 1-1-104 (23.4),
or an undervote, as defined in section 1-1-104 (49.7), and allow the elector to make
corrections.