16-442.01. Accessible voting technology; recommendations; certification; applicability

A. On completion of the certification process pursuant to this section and section 16-442, the secretary of state shall require that voting systems that are used by entities that are governed by section 16-204, but not including cities and towns with a population of less than twenty thousand persons, provide persons who are blind or visually impaired with access to voting that is equivalent to that provided to persons who are not blind or visually impaired and shall provide an accessible vote by United States mail option for persons who are blind or have a visual impairment.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. A voting system that provides the voter with the ability to cast and verify by both visual and nonvisual methods all of the selections that were made by that voter is deemed to provide equivalent access.

2. Nonvisual methods for casting and verifying a selection made on a voting system include the use of synthesized speech, braille and other output methods that do not require sight.

C. The secretary of state shall consult with and obtain recommendations regarding voting systems from nonprofit organizations that represent persons who are blind or visually impaired, persons with expertise in accessible software, hardware and other technology, county and local election officials and other persons deemed appropriate by the secretary of state.  After receiving recommendations, the secretary of state shall submit to the committee established pursuant to section 16-442 one or more voting systems that provide equivalent access pursuant to this section for possible certification for use in this state.

D. Subsection A of this section applies to voting systems that are purchased or upgraded on or after January 1, 2006.