MetalXportUSA National Hackathon 2026
MetalXportUSA is proud to host one of the largest and most anticipated hackathons of 2026 on March 13, 2026, at the prestigious Hilton Parsippany Ballroom.
This premier event will bring together some of the brightest technology enthusiasts, developers, innovators, students, and professionals from across the region. Participants will collaborate in teams to design and build groundbreaking solutions that can create real-world impact across multiple industries, including Information Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Sustainability, and everyday services used by millions of Americans.
The hackathon is more than just a competition. It serves as a platform for innovation, networking, and knowledge sharing, connecting talented creators with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts.
Distinguished Speakers and Judges
We are honored to welcome an exceptional lineup of judges and speakers from diverse industries, including:
- Michelle from Hardeville Recycle, bringing expertise in sustainability and environmental innovation.
- George from Owl Metals, a respected leader in the metals and recycling sector.
- A distinguished panel of healthcare professionals and industry experts who will evaluate innovative solutions focused on improving patient care, accessibility, and healthcare outcomes.
- Rohin Solan, Judge panel at John Hancock, a senior technical product owner with extensive expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and emerging technologies, who will provide valuable insights on the future of intelligent systems and digital transformation.
- Vibhuti mishra (AI Geek)
Event Highlights
- Collaborative team-based innovation challenges
- Projects focused on real-world problems and community impact
- Mentorship from industry professionals
- Networking opportunities with technology and business leaders
- Expert judging and feedback sessions
- Recognition and awards for outstanding innovations
The MetalXportUSA Hackathon 2026 aims to inspire creativity, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and empower participants to build solutions that can drive meaningful change across industries and communities throughout America.
Join us for a day of innovation, learning, and technological excellence as we shape the future together.
HACKATHON WINNER PROJECT – ACCESS USA
What a truly inspiring and heart-winning project. This solution addresses a real challenge faced by millions of Americans every day and demonstrates how technology can be used to strengthen accessibility, inclusion, and democratic participation.
The project has the potential to transform the election voting experience by tackling a national issue that affects citizens across the country. If implemented beyond the prototype stage, it could significantly improve how voters access information, navigate polling resources, and participate independently in the democratic process.
Powered by advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies, this innovative approach represents a forward-thinking vision for the future of civic engagement. Its combination of accessibility, security, and intelligent automation has the potential to be a true game changer for society.
A heartfelt thank you to all of the judges, mentors, speakers, and participants who dedicated their time, expertise, and passion throughout the event. Your commitment to recognizing meaningful innovation helped elevate this project as a standout finalist and contributed to making the entire hackathon an outstanding success.
Congratulations to every team involved for demonstrating the power of technology to solve real-world problems and create positive impact for communities across America.
Inspiration
More than 80 million Americans live with disabilities, yet millions still face barriers when trying to exercise one of their most fundamental democratic rights — voting. Across America, inaccessible polling stations, lack of easy-to-understand voting materials, and limited assistive support continue to exclude citizens from full democratic participation.
We were inspired by America’s commitment to inclusion and equality, and by a simple belief:
Disability should never be a barrier to democracy.
Every citizen deserves equal access to voting, information, and independent participation in elections.
What It Does
AccessUSA is a comprehensive accessibility-first voting platform designed to make elections more inclusive across America.
Core Features
FEATUREDESCRIPTIONACCESSIBILITY FOCUS
Interactive Access Map
Discover polling stations filtered by accessibility needs
Wheelchair access, audio support, visual assistance, easy-read materials
My Ballot Guide
Personalized Easy-Read voting information
Simplified language, audio narration, sign language support
Secret Ballot QR
Privacy-preserving QR-based voting assistance
Independent & assisted voting with privacy compliance
Inclusion Index
Accessibility rankings for polling stations across America
Transparent scoring across 4 accessibility pillars
1. Interactive Access Map
An accessibility-focused polling station discovery system covering polling locations across the United States.
Features
CAPABILITYDETAILS
Accessibility Filters
Wheelchair access, visual assistance, audio support, easy-read materials
Accessibility Scores
Each station receives a transparent accessibility rating
Detailed Information
Opening hours, contact details, available support services
Barrier Reporting
Users can report accessibility issues directly
Country Coverage
Polling stations nationwide indexed
2. My Ballot Guide
A personalized voting information experience built for accessibility and comprehension.
Features
CAPABILITYDETAILS
Easy-Read Format
Simplified language for cognitive accessibility
Audio Read-Aloud
Text-to-speech support for manifestos
Sign Language Support
Embedded sign-language video assistance
Downloadable PDFs
Offline accessible ballot guides
Accessibility Promises
Candidate commitments to disability rights clearly highlighted
3. Secret Ballot QR
A secure and privacy-first system enabling independent voting assistance.
Privacy & Security Features
FEATUREIMPLEMENTATION
Local QR Generation
Codes generated entirely on-device
Zero Data Storage
No personal voting data stored or transmitted
Encryption
End-to-end encrypted QR payloads
Expiration
QR codes automatically expire after 24 hours
Privacy Compliance
Fully privacy-compliant architecture
Assisted Voting
Trusted-person verification support
4. Inclusion Index
A transparent accessibility ranking system for polling stations across America.
Scoring Methodology
ACCESSIBILITY PILLARWEIGHT
Physical Accessibility
25%
Visual Accessibility
25%
Auditory Accessibility
25%
Cognitive Accessibility
25%
Platform Statistics
METRICVALUE
States Covered
50
Polling Stations Indexed
292,825+
Accessibility Dimensions
4
Reporting System
Included
How We Built It
We built AccessUSA using a modern accessibility-first technology stack designed for performance, scalability, and inclusivity.
Tech Stack
TECHNOLOGYPURPOSE
Next.js
Server-side rendering & SEO optimization
Tailwind CSS
Responsive utility-first styling
shadcn/ui
Accessible and consistent UI components
Client-side QR Generation
Secure local-only ballot code generation
Accessibility Architecture
Accessibility was not treated as an afterthought — it was the foundation of the platform.
Accessibility Standards
ACCESSIBILITY FEATUREIMPLEMENTATION
WCAG Compliance
Full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
Keyboard Navigation
Full support for Tab, Enter, Escape navigation
Screen Reader Support
ARIA labels & semantic HTML
Theme Modes
Light, Dark, Color Blind
Readability
Minimum 16px text sizing
Touch Targets
Minimum 44×44px interactive areas
Focus Visibility
High-contrast focus indicators
Challenges We Ran Into
Building a deeply accessible platform while maintaining a polished user experience was our biggest challenge.
Major Challenges
CHALLENGESOLUTION
WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Extensive accessibility testing across all components
Complex Keyboard Flows
Custom focus management and semantic navigation
Privacy-Preserving Voting
Fully client-side QR generation architecture
Cognitive Accessibility
Simplified UX and Easy-Read design patterns
Large-Scale Data Visualization
Structured filtering and accessibility-first navigation
Designing the Secret Ballot QR system was especially difficult because it needed to balance:
- Privacy
- Simplicity
- Security
- Accessibility for users with cognitive disabilities
We also had to present complex accessibility data across 292K+ polling stations in a way that remained intuitive and easy to navigate for users with varying accessibility needs.
Accomplishments We’re Proud Of
ACHIEVEMENTWHY IT MATTERS
Full WCAG 2.1 AA Compliance
Accessibility across every feature, not partial implementation
Three Accessibility Themes
Beyond standard dark/light mode support
On-Device Secret Ballot QR
Zero data transmission for privacy
Inclusion Index
Transparent accessibility rankings at national scale
Accessible Manifesto System
Easy-Read, audio, and sign language support
Barrier Reporting
Empowers users to advocate for accessibility improvements
What We Learned
Through building AccessUSA, we learned that:
- Accessibility must be integrated from the beginning — not retrofitted later
- Great accessibility often results in better UX for everyone
- Democratic participation remains uneven across American states and communities
- Inclusive design requires continuous testing with real assistive technologies
We also gained a deep understanding of:
- WCAG 2.1 standards
- Cognitive accessibility principles
- Accessible interaction design
- American election accessibility challenges
What’s Next for AccessUSA
Future Roadmap
UPCOMING FEATUREGOAL
Real-Time Queue Status
Reduce waiting times and improve accessibility planning
Support for Multiple Languages
Full multilingual accessibility
Live Election Authority Integration
Real-time polling station data feeds
NGO Partnerships
Accessibility validation & community outreach
Local Election Coverage
Expansion beyond federal elections
Offline Mobile App
Access in low-connectivity regions
Vision
AccessUSA is more than a voting platform.
It is a step toward a future where:
- accessibility is standard,
- inclusion is expected,
- and democracy is truly available to everyone.
Built With
- javascript
- next.js
- react
- shadcn/ui
- tailwind-css
