Officials from the CNMI Council for Developmental Disabilities and Commonwealth Election Commission Executive Director Robert Guerrero demonstrated the use of the “accessible voting machine.”
Guerrero said the voting machine for persons with disabilities will be used in next year’s elections.
He said they have recently acquired four machines — one each for Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
The fourth will be the backup machine, he added.
Raymond Diaz, CDD assistant technology program coordinator, said their demonstration showed senior citizens how to vote using the machine.
Diaz, who was accompanied by Thomas J. Camacho, the governor’s special assistant for disability policy and programs, said “persons with low vision, difficulty in hearing or any disabilities” can use the voting machine.
“This will allow a person to vote without using a finger,” Diaz said, adding that it allows a person with disabilities to cast a secret ballot.
The machine has different features, including touch-screen and zoom functions which enlarge the ballot for voters who are visually impaired.
Diaz demonstrated how the machine works for blind voters through the use of earphones that can be plugged into the machine so the voter can listen to audio instructions.
About 20 caregivers attended yesterday’s demonstration, Aging Office Director Rose Mondala said.
“It is very important for the caregivers and their clients to learn the process. It’s about time that we have this kind of voting machine,” she added.
She said people who are depending on C-PAP or continuous positive airway supply can now vote with the use of the machine.
