Bari Colebank tries out “AutoMARK” voting machine – photo 250 News

Prince George, B.C. – A new voting machine will assist people with disabilities cast ballots in this month’s municipal election.

Chief Election Officer Walter Babicz with the City of Prince George says they brought in the “AutoMark” after brainstorming ways to make voting more inclusive.

“Voting is such a fundamental right we thought we’d try and do something to make it even more inclusive.”

Babicz says the city has rented the machine for use during advance voting days at City Hall November 5th and 12th.

Volunteer Bari Colebank with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind calls the new technology “fantastic” noting it will allow him to vote with the benefit of “independence and privacy.”

CNIB’s Sharon Pratt agrees calling it a “very positive step forward” and another indication that people with disabilities “are a very valuable part of society.”

She says it’s difficult to say how many people will take advantage of the technology but estimates the organization has roughly 400 members in the Prince George area.

The machine works by displaying ballot choices and instructions on a large text print on its touch screen monitor.

The machine then generates audio voting instructions that guide the visually impaired voter through the voting process while wearing head phones.

In prior elections visually impaired voters were allowed to have a friend, relative or election officer guide them through the voting process.