We sometimes take voting for granted. Elections officials never can.
As voting season approaches, there are concerns about voting sites suffering from fire, power failure, vandalism, machines not working or a sudden influx of voters overwhelming the facility.
Until now, remedies have been less than easy to implement. Transporting equipment and setting it up, finding another location near the original...all the logistics problems involved in any emergency fix.
There is now a practical solution.
A mobile voting office is available from Printelect ( http://www.printelectmvp.com/). This voting area on wheels includes computer tie ins, up to 15 voting stations, two entry exit points plus a handicap entry with lift. Set up time is minutes, not hours and it can function as a full service precinct voting station.
This 38 foot wheeled office was shown at a recent gathering of voting officials at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center and received a warm welcome. Many were highly impressed and could think of several situations, including a growing reluctance by some traditional sites to serve, that such a mobile unit would take up the slack.
A view screen built into the side means videos and slide shows can be shown to provide instructions and other information as people are gathering to use the site makes this a truly innovative unit.
I personally saw another set of uses. With no major modification, such a unit is a community asset. It could easily be used after an emergency to allow registration for assistance and loan applications.
Also useful as a mobile unit for community outreach in a variety of areas and a community information unit makes this a multi purpose vehicle that any County or City would easily be able to utilize.
Speaking of Voting Season, have you made sure your are registered? Have you updated your address, if needed? Now is the time to take care of these details as Early Voting is sooner than you think. Ask your candidates where they stand...and demand straight and simple answers.
Comments
Great Story. Thanks for the info. J
Just wondering--are these accessible to persons with mobility disabilities? I am thinking how great they would be, if they could be used in areas with high concentrations of senior citizens and senior centers, etc. But only if the steps can be managed for someone with a disability.
Did the group in Craven County look into that aspect? With early voting sites being needed, and many counties electing to have only one, this would be a great solution for those in which (like Wake Co.) the Board of Elections is not in an accessible area.
Martha - These ADA compliant units are certainly accessible to people with decreased/impaired mobility. The enter and exit doors have steps with a forgiving amount of pitch to them (longer than they are tall). Moreover, there is a motorized wheelchair lift in the back of the unit. In addition to accessing the vehicle, voter's with disabilities can be accommodated by height adjusting, ADA compliant voting stations. Finally, the walkway has enough space for wheelchair mobility, with or without other voters occupying other voting stations. I hope this answers your questions, and stop by the website at www.printelectmvp.com for more details and images of the unit!
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