POWER OF
THE
DISABILITY VOTE
VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
More than 35 million Americans with disabilities
are eligible to vote. But only 15 million do
vote. That means 20 million people with
disabilities are not voting. Their votes could
have a big impact on who is elected and on
policies that affect people.
•Your ideas are important
•Your vote counts
•Express yourself
•Voting is vital to democracy
•Voting is vital to democracy
•Voting is the key to change
•Voting is all-American
•Voting is your right
REGISTER TO VOTE!!!
EVERYONE HAS THREE OPTIONS
TO VOTE:
•Vote-by-mail
•Vote-by-paper Ballot
•Vote with Accessible Machine
NOT EVERYONE CAN VOTE
SECRETLY AND INDEPENDENTLY
BY MAIL
•Dexterity impairments
•Visual impairments
•Learning impairments
A SECRET BALLOT IS YOUR RIGHT!!!
The California Constitution:
• The California Constitution says voting must
be done in secret.
California Constitution, Art. II § 7
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO A BALLOT
WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO YOU!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO VOTE
INDEPENDENTLY!
FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS THAT
PROTECT VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
HAVA, the Help America Vote Act of 2002, sets the rules
for voting systems in federal elections. These rules
include making sure voting systems are accessible for
voters with disabilities. Accessible means that the
voting system is easy to use privately and
independently.
42 USC § 15301, et seq.
OTHER FEDERAL LAWS
PROTECTING VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES
• American with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
42 USC § 12101, et seq.
• Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped
Act (VAEHA) of 1984
42 USC § 1973 (ee), et seq.
Federal Standards for Electronic Voting Systems
Deaf and hard of hearing voters want
access to the same information
provided to other voters. In most
cases, this mean information should be
presented visually as well as verbally.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Poll workers sometimes make
announcements, such as directing voters to
stand in a particular line, announcing the time
polls close, or providing other information.
Whenever verbal announcements are made,
the same information should be provided
visually.
CURBSIDE VOTING
If a polling place is not accessible to people with
disabilities:
• A poll worker must bring a regular ballot to a person
with disabilities outside of the polling place (e.g.,
parking lot or sidewalk).
• If it is impracticable to bring the ballot to the person
with disabilities, the poll worker must bring a vote by
mail ballot to the person with disabilities.
California Election Code Sec. 14282(c).
ASSISTING VOTERS WITH
DISABILITIES
• Voters with disabilities may have anybody to assist them with
voting, except for their employer, an agent for their employer, a
member of their union.
California Election Code Sec. 14282(a)
• A voter with disabilities may have no more than two persons
assist him or her to vote (including poll workers).
California Elections Code 14282(a).
• A person assisting a person with disabilities to vote must keep all
information about the person’s choices confidential.
SERVICE ANIMALS
• Some individuals are accompanied by a
service animal.
• Under federal anti-discrimination laws, polling
places must permit these service animals to
accompany a person with a disability.
(28 CFR Sec. 35.130(b)(7)).
REGISTER TO VOTE!!!
DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS
OCTOBER 20, 2014
DISABILITY RIGHTS CALIFORNIA
ELECTION DAY HOTLINE
NOVEMBER 4, 2014
7:00 AM TO 8:00 PM
1-800-569-7955