list of resources for resident voters...

[etana.livejournal.com]

For those voting with AutoMark scanners click here for an informative, descriptive video how-to produced by the Minnesota Secretary of State.

All polling places in Massachusetts are required by law to have an AutoMark machine.  Whether it will be functioning, and whether poll workers are actually trained on it, is a different matter.  If you have any problems on Election Day, you can call the Massachusetts Disability Law Center voters' hotline: 800-872-9992, TTY: 800-381-0577

Blind voters needing real-time trouble shooting of the AutoMark can call the National Federation of the Blind Project VIP (Voting With Independence and Privacy) hotline: 877-632-1940

The Massachusetts Voters' Bill of Rights, including regulations on the buying, selling, and wearing of any badge or t-shirt displaying voting preference can be found here in pdf or html format.

And while disabled voters are guaranteed equal access to the polls, it's always helpful to be an informed citizen.  The U.S. Department of Justice has prepared an ADA Checklist for Polling Places.  It might be worth your while to read over and know what to expect, in addition to checking up on your polling place.

(x-posted to my journal)

Comments

[ron_newman]

Thank you for posting this.

(But the Voters' Bill of Rights is specific to Nevada, and does not necessarily reflect Massachusetts law or practice.)

[etana.livejournal.com]

edited accordingly :) thanks for pointing that out!

[ron_newman]

Thanks. The Massachusetts version that you have now linked to does not mention badges and t-shirts. The poll workers can tell a voter to remove a badge (this accidentally happened to me once) or cover up or take off a piece of clothing that advocates for a candidate.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Also, and this is important, folks, if you run into ANY voting troubles whatsoever, especially mechanical, report the issue to vote@wired.com.

Wired is tracking voter problems this year, and, yeah, they may be owned by Conde Nast but filing a report with an independent journalistic entity is a good thing. Especially since I'm pretty certain the RNC is going to be getting up to some dirty tricks tomorrow.

[etana.livejournal.com]

I heart me some cake too!

[etana.livejournal.com]

You're right. Refer to M.G.L. Chapter 54, Section 65 regarding paraphenalia at polling places.

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/54-65.htm

[etana.livejournal.com]

unless you are the church of England and you've just run out of cake!

[ron_newman]

I guess clothing, buttons, and badges fall under "any poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of a voter", though the fine for violating this is a derisory $20.

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

But then you could have the chicken, please.

[etana.livejournal.com]

there is no chicken...