BackElection Day Voter Accessibility: Confidently Cast Your Ohio Ballot
Posted on 10/06/24 by Isabel in Advocacy
Election Day is quickly approaching. Are you planning to cast your ballot on Election Day but concerned about challenges in fulfilling your civic duty because of your disability? You are not alone.
Inaccessible voting is an issue across the nation, especially for those with disabilities. Thankfully, there are resources to support you. Let's discuss Ohio's Election Day accessible voting options for people with disabilities.
Prepare For The Polls
Before heading to the polls, ensure you are registered to vote by Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. You can check your voter registration, update your information, and register online.
When you head to the polls, review Ohio's Voter ID Requirements. You will need to show the poll workers your ID. Your photo ID can have your old address, but your registration must be current.
Election Day Accessible Voting Options
On Election Day, you will have access to a diverse range of in-person accessible voting options at your designated polling location.
You can find your polling location quickly by looking up your voter registration or here. The polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2024.
Curbside Voting
We have probably all heard of curbside pick-up, but you may have yet to hear about curbside voting!
Curbside Voting is an in-person voting option for Ohioans with disabilities who cannot physically enter their polling location. With this option, two poll workers from opposite political parties will bring you your ballot. You can fill your ballot out in your car or near the door.
There is no need to make prior arrangements for this option on Election Day. You can send someone inside your polling location to inform the poll workers that you are voting curbside.
Ballot Assistance
You may need assistance with your ballot on Election Day because of your disability. Rest assured, all Ohio polling locations must meet accessibility standards, ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to voting. You can feel confident about the accessibility of your polling location.
If you need assistance marking your ballot because of your disability, you have two options.
Human Assistance
You can ask someone to help you mark your ballot, but there are some rules both of you must follow:
- You can bring someone with you to help you mark your ballot. For example, you pick a family member, caregiver, or friend.
- If you request assistance at the polls, two poll workers from two different dominant political parties must come over.
- A candidate appearing on the ballot is prohibited from helping you.
- Agents and officers of a union cannot assist.
- An employer or employer's agent may not mark your ballot.
- The person helping you cannot disclose how they voted or give insight into how to vote.
Accessible Voting Equipment
You may prefer to vote independently without someone helping you. At your polling location, you can request accessible voting equipment to help you mark your ballot, such as:
- Navigating with a touch screen or push button
- Sip/puff navigation
- Adjusting the screen height or tilt
- Screen/text color contrast
- Access to large print and a zoom screen
- Use an audio ballot
- Ballots with braille and tactile lettering
If you have any additional questions about accessible voting options on Election Day, please contact us or your local Board of Elections. You can view accessible early voting options here.