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Blind for more than half a century, Lin Gallagher tests a new voting system Tuesday in Carson City. The system allows blind and visually impaired voters to cast their own ballots. Photo by Associated Press

Thursday, October 12, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Voting system for blind tested in Carson City

Allows sight-impaired voters cast their ballots without assistance

CARSON CITY -- This election will be the first time Lin Gallagher, blind for more than half a century, votes in a booth without anyone helping him.

Until now, Gallagher, 62, blind since he was 3 years old, has voted with an absentee ballot and always with the help of a friend.

But this year, Carson City is instituting a new program that will provide blind residents with an audiocassette and a special ballot that will allow them to vote without assistance.

Carson City will be the first place in Nevada and one of only a handful of cities nationwide that use similar audio and tactile programs.

Gallagher, a Carson City resident and an educator for blind adults, gave the program a trial run Tuesday. He listened to the tape, ran his fingers along a sample ballot and provided advice while Craig Swope, who cut the tape, took notes.

Gallagher said the cassette wasn't perfect and needed fine tuning before early voting begins, but the program will work well.

Swope, executive director of Carson Access Television, said changes such as tactile stickers on tape player buttons and more instruction on how to begin will help improve the system.

Clerk-Recorder Alan Glover said the system should be available during early voting, which starts Oct. 23. But with only a few tape players, the special ballot for the blind probably wouldn't be used at all voting locations on Nov. 7.

The driving force behind the new ballot was Carson City resident Isabel Young.

A community activist involved in many issues, Young read an article in a newspaper about Rhode Island requiring similar ballots for the blind statewide and was inspired to bring the issue up to city leaders.

She said she thought Tuesday's test was successful.

"I think it went well. You have to do a dry run to get out the kinks," Young said, adding she hoped other cities in the state follow suit.

Jim Dickson of the Washington-based National Organization on Disability hopes Carson City's action has a far-reaching impact.

"If Carson City can do it, why can't every city in the country?" said Dickson, who has been blind most of his life.