(Newser)
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In a nationwide first, some Oregonians voting in a primary to replace disgraced Rep. David Wu are being assisted by iPads. Election workers in five counties are seeking out voters who might otherwise have trouble voting and helping them use the Apple device to fill out ballots, which are then printed out and mailed in. People with poor vision can adjust the font size or have the device read out the candidates' names, and people unable to hold pens can touch the screen to fill out their mail-in ballots, AP reports.
"It's a lot simpler for me. I think it's a great setup they got," says one 75-year-old voter with severe arthritis, Election officials helped him this time, "but now that I've seen how it works I'm confident I can do it on my own," he says. Officials in the state—which pioneered mail-in voting—chose the iPad after experimenting with several other devices. Apple donated five iPads for the program, which Oregon hopes to roll out statewide for the special general election in January. Click here for more on the sex scandal that earned Wu the word "disgraced" in front of his name, and drove him out of office.
