Letter to Palm Beach County Commissioners Regarding Paper Receipts on DRE (Direct Recording Electronic) Voting Machines

February 23, 2004

Board of County Commissioners
Palm Beach County
301 N. Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

RE: Paper receipts from DRE Voting Machines

Dear County Commissioners,

The Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, Florida's Protection and Advocacy System, operates the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program, which is mandated by the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). It is PAVA's goal to make sure that all aspects of voting in the state of Florida are accessible to persons with disabilities.

We are aware of your decision to require the generation of paper receipts from Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines. As we understand it, this receipt is to be provided to the voter for their review. To ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this receipt must be made available in alternate formats, such as Braille and large print, for those voters who are visually impaired. Also, these alternative formats must be available in every precinct in your county.

Additionally, HAVA requires certification by the Secretary of State of all voting machines used in the state, in order for federal HAVA funding to be used to purchase the machines. Currently, there are no machines certified that produce a paper receipt, in any format.

We look forward to your response, since observance of the ADA and HAVA should be your highest priorities.

Sincerely,

Ellen Piekalkiewicz
Interim Executive Director
Advocacy Center

CC: Glenda Hood, Florida Secretary of State
Florida Association of Counties
Supervisors of Elections of all 67 Florida Counties