The Vote-PAD (Voting-on-Paper Assistive Device) is an inexpensive, non-electronic, voter-assist alternative that helps people with a broad range of visual or dexterity impairments to vote independently.

Here’s how a voter with a visual impairment uses the Vote-PAD:

		The poll worker slides the ballot into the ballot sleeve, aligns the holes in the sleeve with the marking positions on the ballot, tapes the ballot in place, and sets the voter up with the Vote-PAD and audio player, Braille, or large-print instructions.
		The voter puts on the headset and starts the audio instructions; or begins reading the Braille or large-print instructions.

		Using the page-turning aid, the voter easily turns pages.
		Following the instructions, which explain the correspondence of raised bumps with the candidate positions, the voter marks the choices beside the appropriate bumps.
		After marking the choices, the voter plays the second section of the audio or re-reads the Braille or large-print instructions and uses the verification wand to check each location to make sure the desired choices are marked.

The voter closes the booklet and deposits the ballot into a ballot box or feeds it into a precinct-scanner, sliding the privacy shield out with the ballot to cover the ballot and protect the secrecy of the votes.

Here’s how a voter with dexterity impairments uses the Vote-PAD:

		The poll worker slides the ballot into the ballot sleeve, aligns the holes in the sleeve with the marking positions on the ballot, tapes the ballot in place, and sets the voter up in a voting booth with the Vote-PAD.
		The voter uses the page-turning aids to turn the pages easily, using a mouth-stick (as shown), a prosthesis, or a hand with limited dexterity.
		As the voter marks the ballot, the plastic sleeve protects the ballot from stray marks.
		If the voter needs help to deposit the completed ballot, the poll worker can assist, removing the tape and sliding the privacy shield out with the ballot to cover the ballot and protect the secrecy of the voter’s votes.

“The Vote-PAD keeps my marks inside the circle, and the pages are easier to flip.” ~ Jeff Thompson, Boston Center for Independent Living (Tester with quadriplegia)

Individuals with dexterity or visual impairments have graciously provided testing for the Vote-PAD. All those tested found that they were able to mark a test ballot independently. Those with dexterity impairments, who have voted independently in the past, said they were more comfortable using the Vote-PAD because they were not worried about leaving stray marks on the ballot.