Voters with Disabilities Still Face Barriers

Written by Golda Kelli Ryan

The right to vote is one of the most important responsibilities of U.S. citizens. All voters are ensured that their interests and voices are represented when they cast their votes. Despite this, fairvote.org states that the U.S. Constitution provides no explicit right to vote and as a result, some citizens have fewer rights than others. It is important to acknowledge that people with disabilities had to fight for their right to vote and have continued to face obstacles that have restricted their right to vote at polling locations. According to the National Disability Rights Network, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires all polling places to be accessible to people with disabilities. However, polling locations in the United States remain largely inaccessible to voters with disabilities for a variety of reasons.

Voting Barriers

Voters with disabilities who require wheelchair accessibility are faced with restrictions at polling locations when doors are too narrow, when there is a lack of automatic door openers, when there is no proper signage, and when there are no entryway ramps. Curbside voting accommodations are in place but are not an acceptable option because privacy becomes an issue.

A woman holding a large clipboard sits in her car while a woman with a red jacket takes the clipboard. Woman in red jacket wears a button that says "vote". — A woman votes using a curb-side voting option. While this new option has helped some people with disabilities be able to vote, there are still many barriers to voting for others in the disability community.

Disabled voters with vision impairments encounter barriers when polling locations do not provide ballots with larger print, voting machines are not equipped to offer audio, or voting machines are inoperable. “Advocacy organizations have received complaints about machines not operating properly or of poll workers not being trained in their use.” A survey conducted by Rutgers University, following the 2016 election found that such problems led to decreased voting by individuals with disabilities.

A woman wearing over-the-ear headphones stands while using an ADA accessible voting machine for blind or visually impaired individuals. — A woman uses an ADA accessible voting machine for blind or visually impaired individuals.

There are several cases where voters with cognitive disabilities have been denied their right to vote because assumptions were made about their intellectual capabilities. “Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have laws that strip voting rights for people with mental disabilities who are deemed incapacitated or incompetent by a court of law.” These laws also apply to voters with disabilities when the court assigns a legal guardian to handle their affairs.

How People with Disabilities are Gaining Their Rights Back

The Special Needs Alliance works with many organizations to overcome these obstacles. Here are recommendations made by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration to help defeat voting obstacles faced by people with disabilities.

Voters with disabilities should not face these voting obstacles alone. They have the ability to use their unique experiences and perspectives to enhance and influence policies that are made within their communities and their country. In July of this year, Vice President Kamala Harris led by example and met with a group of disability rights advocates to discuss their voting barriers. She acknowledged the obstacles and told reporters that ensuring access to voting rights for people with disabilities is one of the nation’s top priorities. You can check out the full meeting here.

Vice President Kamal Harris sits at the front of a large wooden table with 5 other individuals all smiling looking at the camera. — In July of this year, Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with a group of disability advocates to discuss disability voting rights.

What to do if your Voting Rights are Being Neglected

“If you face any challenges in voting privately and independently or are unable to cast your vote, report the problem to the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Trained attorneys can assist you and make sure that other voters do not experience the same problem.” – American Civil Liberties Union

You can also contact the phone numbers listed below:

If you would like to become more involved and empower lives in the community, join CIL’s volunteer team! There are many ways to become a part of our mission to break down barriers and create new opportunities for disability inclusion and acceptance. For volunteer opportunities email bpilcher@cilorlando.org.