WELCOMING VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES 
Tips to make the voting experience welcoming, fair, and accessible 

The disability community is large, diverse, pays attention to a wide range of issues, 
represents all political ideas, and cares about the policies that affect their everyday lives. 
People with disabilities have the right to vote. 

Outside the Polling Place - Signs and Parking 

•Place signs directing voters to accessible parking and accessible entrances.
•Place accessible parking spots nearest to the accessible entrance.
•Create an accessible path from the parking areas to the polling place entrance.
-Make sure there are no obstacles (such as a curb, trash cans, or signage).
-Make sure the polling place door can be easily opened.
-If there are no designated accessible parking spots, create a spotby placing an “accessible parking” sign.





Inside the Polling Place 

•Place chairs or benches for people with difficulty standing for periods of time.
•Provide a clear, accessible path from the entrance to the registration table.
•Provide a clear, accessible path from the registration table to the voting booth.
•Post a written notice that assistance is available.


Service Animals 

Service animals must be admitted to the voting location. 

•DO NOT pet or distract a service animal as they are a working animal and not a pet.
•If a disability is not obvious, you may ask two questions of a service animal handler:
-Is this animal required because of a disability?
-What is the animal trained to do for you?





•You may not ask for documentation of the service animal.

•You may not ask the handler to demonstrate what service the animal performs.

Assistance and Interacting with Voters with Disabilities

•A poll worker must offer assistance if the voter is unable to:
-See or mark the ballot.
-Operate the voting equipment.
-Enter the voting booth without assistance.



•A written notice that assistance is available must be posted at the polling place.
•In most cases, the voter can choose who may assist them when voting.
•If a person is blind or has low vision, identify yourself and offer assistance.
•Provide magnifying devices for people who request them.
•Recommended size for large print is an 18-point sans-serif font.
•Have a pad of paper and pen handy in case a person is Deaf or unable to speak.
•Provide private voting station with maximum height of 34 inches for wheelchair usersand people who need to sit.


Remember The Golden Rule: Treat Others as You Would Like to Be Treated 

•Be courteous and respectful. Always ask if the voter wants help before offering assistance.
•Be considerate of extra time a person with a disability may need to cast their ballot.
•Be patient with a person who has difficulty moving, seeing, speaking, or hearing.
•Speak directly to the voter, not their companion, aide, or interpreter.


Published by: Burton Blatt Institute - Syracuse University, Southeast ADA Center, Fundedby NIDILRR Grant #90DPAD0005-01-00.