West Virginia Code 3-1C-2 – Findings
The Legislature makes the following findings:
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 3-1C-2
- Access: means the ability to receive, use, select and manipulate data and operate controls included in voting technology and systems. See West Virginia Code 3-1C-3
- Nonvisual: means synthesized speech, Braille and other output methods not requiring sight. See West Virginia Code 3-1C-3
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- Voter: shall mean any person who possesses the statutory and Constitutional qualifications for voting. See West Virginia Code 3-1-2
(1) Microchip and digital technologies are increasingly changing the way Americans vote;
(2) State and political subdivisions are replacing antiquated voting methods and machines with computer- and electronic-based voting systems, but nonvisual access, whether by speech, Braille or other appropriate means is often overlooked in certifying and purchasing the latest voting technology;
(3) Voting technology and systems which allow the voter to access and select information solely through visual means are a barrier to access by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, thereby discouraging them from exercising the right to vote, the most fundamental right of citizenship in a free and democratic society;
(4) Software and hardware adaptations have been created so that voters can interact with voting technology and systems through both visual and nonvisual means allowing blind and visually impaired people to cast a secret ballot and independently verify their vote; and
(5) In promoting full participation in the electoral process, the goals of the state and its political subdivisions must recognize the right of all citizens regardless of blindness or visual impairment to vote and to cast and verify their ballots independently.