Reply #6: I'm not so sure you are right, Wilms...

[demodonkey]

...I am not so sure that "most" voters in general prefer absentee as you say. Look at states with "no excuse" absentee and you will see that a lot of voters (disabled or not) still prefer to come out to the polls.

There are a lot of people with disabilities who take the act of coming to the polls and voting very seriously. I know of at least four or five voters in my own poll who have serious disabilities and never miss an election.

I do know this -- the disability community as a whole really saw HAVA as a landmark opportunity. Unfortunately, they 'wuz had' especially with the DREs.

Finally, please be aware that a lot of disabled voters CAN use a mainstream paper ballot, and using a wheelchair does not automatically mean one needs special equipment to vote. For example my mother can write just fine when her wheelchair is next to an appropriate table; in fact as Inspector she signs and organizes the paperwork for our precinct. She wouldn't need a ballot marker to vote on a paper ballot, but she can't use the DREs.