8 November 2006

The Internet is a major step forward in helping disabled persons vote, a president of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has claimed.

Kristina Lawrence, president of the Seattle chapter, wrote in the Seattle Post Intelligencer that improvements in accessibility have opened up the democratic process to many individuals.

In the US, the Help America Vote Act has meant that internet voting booths with special accessibility features have been established in some areas.

This has enabled many disabled persons to vote in private for the first time, Ms Lawrence noted.

"For the first time in history, voters who are blind will be able to cast their vote privately with the use of new audio ballots," she wrote.

"And for the first time, voters with limited hand dexterity can use a touch screen to cast a ballot independently."

The NFB has recently brought a lawsuit against US retailer Target, claiming that the company has failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing a website which does not adhere to accessibility guidelines.

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