September 6, 2007

The Honorable XXX
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative XXX:

We are writing to express grave concern about the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act H.R. 811, which would make a number of major changes to the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), legislation that increased the accessibility of voting for people with disabilities, enabling people to cast their ballot privately. Although the compromise bill is an improvement over the bill as introduced, the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) seeks to ensure that any and all measures instituted to provide enhanced security, accuracy and/or voter confidence must be developed and implemented in a manner that ensures immediate accessibility for people with disabilities. Such measures must not interfere with the current ability of voters with disabilities to cast private and independent ballots, as mandated by HAVA. Therefore, we urge you to oppose H.R. 811 when it comes to the House floor.

NCIL, the oldest cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities, represents Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), individuals with disabilities, and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities throughout the United States. NCIL recently surveyed our membership and found that 60% of respondents were able to vote privately using accessible voting machines. Survey results are available online at: http://www.ncil.org/news/VoterSurveyResults.html

Because of HAVA’s requirement that all polling places have at least one accessible voting machine by 2006, we have seen significant improvement in voting accessibility since the 2002 elections. NCIL does not want to move backward on accessibility, and we have been advocating along with other disability and civil rights groups that any voter verification system must meet HAVA's requirements that voters with disabilities can access that system with privacy and independence. Unfortunately, we are still awaiting the development of an accessible voting machine that can meet the Holt bill's paper ballot requirement and that has been tested and certified for use in elections. Indeed, we understand that it will take six years after passage of legislation until yet-to be-designed voting systems can be widely deployed.

We urge you to oppose any legislation that does not ensure immediate accessibility for people with disabilities. Such measures must not interfere with the current ability of voters with disabilities to cast private and independent ballots, as mandated by HAVA. For more information on this and other disability policy issues, please do not hesitate to contact Deb Cotter, Policy Analyst at deb@ncil.org or (202) 207-0334, ext. 1008.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Kelly Buckland                                                           John Lancaster
President                                                                     Executive Director