The Voatz mobile elections platform provides robust support for all voters, including those with visual, cognitive, mobility, and dexterity disabilities. Hearing is not required for voting (unless using a screen reader). To the greatest extent possible, we comply with all applicable accessibility standards and guidelines and provide verification in independent reports.
Voatz follows these industry and regulatory accessibility standards:
- EAC Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG v1.1) for usability and accessibility
- Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 level AA (WCAG 2.1/AA)
- Apple iOS and Android best practices for accessibility
The Voatz mobile apps support these native smartphone capabilities:
- VoiceOver and TalkBack screen readers
- Predictable layout and navigation
- Configurable font size
- Voice Control (on iOS)
- Speech-to-Text (for write-ins)
- Flexible session timeout limitations
Watch the following video about how VoiceOver/TalkBack screenreaders assist visually-impaired voters:
Watch the following video about how Voice Control navigation assists dexterity-impaired voters:
Development Methodology
Voatz incorporates accessibility and usability design throughout its development process:
- Voatz partnered with the National Center for Accessible Media for recommendations on usability and accessibility. Read more about the partnership here.
- Voatz software is evaluated in-house by professional testers with previous WCAG 2.1 and certified voting systems experience. Read the VPAT statement here.
- Voatz engaged Pro V&V, an independent EAC-approved voting system testing laboratory (VSTL) certified in assessing accessibility compliance with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Voluntary Voting System Guidelines (VVSG 1.1). View Pro V&V’s Accessibility and Usability Test Report here.
- In addition to rigorous internal testing and remediation, Voatz continuously incorporates feedback from accessibility experts and voters with disabilities who have participated in elections using Voatz.