An important aspect of being an informed voter is not only knowing what will be on your ballot, but also knowing what your voting rights are. Whether you're a person who has one or more disabilities (or you work with individuals with disabilities), this blog post will give you the tools and resources you need to have a successful experience at the polls this election season.
Accessible voting isn’t optional--it’s the law.
In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title II of this act guarantees all citizens a full and equal opportunity to vote in all local, state, and federal elections. In 2002, to make the voting process more accessible, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), ensuring all polling locations for federal elections have accessible voting machines. Together, these acts protect the voting rights of the disability community.
Despite these legal protections, challenges remain. A post-election survey of the 2022 midterm elections by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) found that about one in seven (~2.2 million) voters with disabilities have still faced difficulties while voting, compared to one in twenty voters without disabilities. Since nearly a quarter of all eligible voters have a disability or live with someone who has a disability, it's clear there is still work to be done when it comes to protecting this community's voting rights and removing voting barriers.
Challenges faced by voters with disabilities
Some of the challenges that citizens with disabilities face when voting (or trying to vote) include accessibility barriers, physical barriers, stereotypes, and misinformation. This has led to widespread political disinterest among Americans with disabilities. In 2022, 15.3 million voters with disabilities did not cast a ballot.
The same report by the EAC revealed that over a third of voters with disabilities reported that they did not register to vote because they were not interested in the election or not involved in politics. Even among those registered, 35% stated that an illness or disability (their own or familial) kept them from the polls, in addition to the 15% who felt their vote wouldn’t make a difference.
Accessible voting options available in Ohio
All eligible people with disabilities, including those with guardians, have the right to vote with accommodations (unless a probate court has revoked this right). Due to the diversity of disabilities people may have, there is no one method that will make voting accessible for all people. This is why it is important to have a variety of methods that voters can utilize.
In Ohio, voters have numerous options when it comes to when, where, and how they can cast their ballots this November.
Registration
Before voting, everyone must register to vote. In Ohio, this can be done online on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website or at any Department of Motor Vehicles location (Note: the deadline to register is October 7th).
Voting Options
In Ohio you can vote by mail or in person. Early in-person voting and absentee voting by mail open October 8th and run until the Sunday before Election Day. In-person voting runs until November 3rd, while mail-in ballots must be postmarked by November 4th (applications for absentee ballots close October 29th). Click here for Ohio’s 2024 election schedule.
Absentee voters with a qualifying disability under the ADA can request an accessible absentee ballot. This allows them to receive their ballot in an accessible format on any device
and mark their ballots privately and independently with any assistive technology they need.
Requests must be submitted through the Ohio Secretary of State’s website here.
Also, if you experience an unforeseeable hospitalization, cannot vote on election day, or missed the application deadline for an absentee ballot due to an illness or disability, you can still request an absentee ballot!
If you want to vote in person, Ohio voters have the right to polling locations free of any barriers to their entrances and exits, and these locations must have ramps, wide doors, and accessible parking. Voters also have access to several different types of assistive voting technologies (depending on their needs) such as:
Braille and tactile lettering
Audio ballots
Zoom screen/large print text
Screen/text color contrast
Screen height or tilt adjustments
Sip/puff navigation
Touch screen or push button navigation
Voters with disabilities can also bring someone with them if they need assistance during the voting process (such as a family member, friend, or health aide). Election workers can provide assistance if voters aren't able to bring someone. And no one who assists a voter can tell them how to vote or disclose any information about how that person voted later on.
Curbside voting is another option available to any voter who is physically unable to enter their polling location. In this option, two poll workers from opposite parties will bring a ballot to you. Voters have the option to sit in their vehicle to vote or vote at the door of the early voting location. They can also send in a representative to let election workers know they need help. If voting early and you opt for curbside voting, you must call the location before your arrival so election workers can make the necessary arrangements. On election day, calling ahead is not a requirement for curbside voting (but is still recommended as a courtesy).
It should be noted that regardless of disability status, all voters still must cast their ballots during the designated voting hours (which is 6:30 a.m. -- 7:30 p.m. on Election Day).
Still have questions? Check out the Voters with Disabilities webpage from the Ohio Secretary of State or contact your local Board of Elections.
Moving forward
If we are to make elections accessible for all, we must work together to educate voters and election workers, connect people with necessary resources, and empower them to advocate for enhanced accessibility.
Accessible voting ensures full and equal opportunities for everyone. By understanding and utilizing available resources, we can help make the voting process more inclusive and equitable.
Want to spread the word about accessible voting? When talking about voting with disabilities on social media, use the #AccessibleVoting to join the conversation and share resources and tips.
Additional Resources:
Map of Voting Systems in Ohio and an Interactive Map of Voting Systems Across the U.S.
Ohio Resources for Voters with Disabilities - U.S. Vote Foundation
Ohio Secretary of State Webpage for Voters with Disabilities
EACs 2018 and 2022 Election Data for voters with disabilities
EACs 2016 and 2020 Election Data for voters with disabilities
Pew Research Center’s 8 facts about Americans with Disabilities
Justice Department intervenes in Ohio voting lawsuit, claiming law restricts those with disabilities
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