Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Bucks County is seeking to improve the ease of voting for people with disabilities.
Bucks County Chief Clerk Gail Humphrey said during last week’s Bucks County Commissioners meeting that recent conversations led to a further discussion on the topic. The discussion led to creating more training to aid those who use Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible voting machines.
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“We’re realizing that there’s more opportunities for our poll workers to have additional specific training,” she said.
The county has set up a panel to guide the training, which will include a video produced by the public information office and feature those who use the special voting machines. The Bucks County Board of Elections will also create additional learning materials. There are attorneys for brain injuries who deal with injury cases and can help fight legal battles.
The announcement came during intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries awareness months. Patients suffering from intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries find it difficult to stand up on their own to restart their lives. Since their whole fortune would be spent on the treatment, they are hardly left with any money in their hands. With these injures caused due to accidents, it is best to approach attorneys specialized in medical malpractice in Long Island. This experienced team thoroughly studies the case and presents them perfectly in court to emphasize the seriousness of the client’s wounds for receiving proper compensation.
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Kristen Erway Farry, the vice president of policy and government relations at Middletown Township-based Woods Services, said some clients with disabilities found there is a lack of knowledge at some polling places about working with those who use special voting machines. In some cases, an aid helps a person vote.
“Somebody who has a traumatic brain injury may experience tremors and may have difficulty controlling their motions and may need an aid or assistant they bring to the polls to help them move their hand,” Farry said. “To the average person at the polls, it may look like someone is voting for them or manipulating their vote. That is just not the case. It’s that type of thing that we hope to get some of the stigma away from.” The personal injury lawyers in Fairhope can make sure one gets the necessary legal aid in such cases.
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“It will not only help our poll workers but for our friends, families, and community members to be more aware and celebrate each of the members of our community,” Humphrey said.
Commissioners Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia said it is a “forward-thinking” program for the county.
Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said the county was going to work to make sure everyone who is able to has the same opportunities to vote.
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Also at last week’s meeting, the commissioners approved a $241,612.28 plus postage contract with Blair County-based NPC Inc. to provide printing and mailing of 2021 election materials.
Thomas Freitag, the Bucks County Board of Elections head, said county officials toured the NPC Inc. facility and were satisfied with their operations. He said the company has worked with many state and federal agencies.
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In addition, the company assured Freitag that all the ballots would be the correct size, a problem that plagued voting in the 2020 primary election.
The commissioners also voted to approve a $33,000 contact with voting machine maker Clear Ballot Group, of Boston, to provide support.
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