section element must only have role semantics of alert, alertdialog, application, contentinfo, dialog, document, log, main, marquee, presentation, region, search or status.
Purpose
The section element has role restrictions as part of its definition in the W3C HTML5 Specification.
The section element can be used to for identifying many types of of sections and sub sections within a web page and a limited number of widget roles, review the techniques for the possible uses of the section element with ARIA role semantics.
The section element should not be used when there is a more semantically meaningful elements available (e.g. main, header, footer,..)
The default (e.g. no role attribute) is role="region", if the section element has an accessible name it will be considered a landmark in the document.
If the content of the section element is used as a sub-section of another landmark use role="region" with an accessible name to identify the sub-section.
If the content of the section element is used to provide a time sensitive text message to the user that is very important for the user to know use the live region role="alert" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used to create a error dialog box with a message that is very important for the user to know use the role="alertdialog" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is primarily form controls and/or widgets use role="application" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as the container for footer information that is repeated on most pages of the website use role="contentinfo" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used to create a non-error message related dialog box use the role="dialog" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is primarily composed of non interactive text and images and the section element is embedded inside an container element with role="application"" use the role="document" attribute on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as the container a list of messages use role="log" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as the container for the main content of the page use role="main" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as for periodically changing text on the page that is considered more informational (e.g. news tag line) use role="marquee" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is NOT being used as the container for a region landmark use role="presentation" on the section element to remove it from landmark navigation.
If the content of the section element is used as the container for sub section within a landmark use role="region" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as the container for a search the website form use role="search" on the section element.
If the content of the section element is used as the container for a status message that will be automatically be updated on some pending transaction use role="status" on the section element.
If the content of the section element does not meet any of the other techniques do not use the role attribute.