Disability advocates in Indiana say the state does not provide adequate and necessary provisions for blind voters to its email voting system.
Justin Hicks / IPB News
A group of Hoosiers who are blind say that Indiana’s email voting system does not allow them to vote privately and independently at home. And they are suing the state about it.
In Indiana, Hoosiers with disabilities can vote by mail. But these ballots are just paper. Indiana Disability Rights legal director Tom Crishon said Indiana law requires blind voters to use a travel board.
“These are two people who will come to your house and complete the voting for you,” Crishon said. “This is essentially forcing visually impaired voters to lose their right to private and independent voting.”
Crishon stressed that the lawsuit is not aimed at expanding the postal voting system – like other unsuccessful lawsuits this year. Instead, Crishon said the solution was simpler: use the same system that Indiana already has for overseas voters and the military – voting by fax or email.
“It would be very easy to adapt this system to include voters with relevant disabilities,” said Crishon.
According to Crishon, disability rights advocates have kept the state informed of the problem for months and been ignored.
Contact reporter Brandon at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @ brandonjsmith5.
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