Machine Helps Disabled Sacramento County Voters Gain Independence

In the past, someone who had a visual disability or physical issue that made holding a pen difficult might have required help from someone else in order to vote. But now, there is the Image Cast, or ICX, machine.

The machine on display at the Sacramento County Voter Registration and Elections Office adapts to the needs of the voter, such as a person who is visually impaired.

"We have a controller that's attached to an audio device that goes over their ears that has braille on it that actually walks them through the ballot in an audio format,” said spokeswoman Janna Haynes. “It tells them what is on the screen, reads each individual candidate, or measure or proposition or whatever the case may be, so they can go through the process themselves even though they cannot see the ballot."

There is also a touch screen option with large choices that are easier to select.

"They can actually touch mark this on the screen which requires less dexterity than holding the pen. That way they can still vote independently and not have to get somebody else to help them through the process," Haynes said.

The voter must still print out the ballot.

Haynes says Sacramento County first used the ICX machine in 2018 and received so many positive responses it ordered more. Each of the county's 84 vote centers has three machines.