SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1893        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 340

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act require voting systems to be accessible to people with disabilities..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 32 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:

The secretary shall not approve any voting system that is acquired on or after September 1, 2007, unless it:

(a)                Complies with section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) and its subsequent amendments and with Title II of the federal American with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12131 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments;

(b)               Is accessible for individuals with disabilities, including non-visual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, as for other voters; and

(c)                Satisfies the requirement of paragraph (b) above through the use of at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities at each voting place.