To the Editor:

I wanted to take a moment to express my pleasure in the availability to vote independently this morning. I am totally blind and for five years my husband and/or a poll worker has assisted me in exercising my right to vote.

My husband read in The Tidewater News a few weeks ago about the new accessible voting machines. I contacted the registrar’s office a couple weeks ago to inquire about the new machines.

Ms. Jennifer Maynard at the Registrar’s invited me to test/train on the new machine before election day. I cannot stress enough, the courtesy and respect I was treated with by Ms. Maynard and again at the polls this morning.

I would like to publicly thank Ms. Maynard and the poll workers who ensured my voting experience was a pleasant one. For the first time, in a long time, I feel I now have full independence.

Dr. Jennifer McAllister
Franklin