'That’s my dream': People with disabilities want more voting options
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On Election Day, people are expected to do their civic duty and vote. Some citizens have a harder time voting than others because of the lack of accessibility at various polling stations.
Approximately 13% of people surveyed by the U.S. Census reported illness or disability kept them from voting in the 2020 presidential election.
Almost 2 million voters with disabilities, or 11% of voters, had some type of difficulty voting in 2020, according to a study by the Program for Disability Research at Rutgers University and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
People with a disability voted at a lower rate in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, although turnout increased for the most recent one, according to the study. Increased access to mail-in ballots helped push the disability turnout to 17.7 million in 2020.
Matthew Shapiro is founder and CEO of 6 Wheels Consulting, an organization that helps companies better understand and implement inclusive practices for people with disabilities.
“Voting is the most fundamental responsibility we have as citizens and I think that everyone, no matter their ability level or what accommodations they may or may not need, deserves the right to be able to perform their civic duty,” Shapiro said. “So we need to make sure that we have polling places that allow us to do that.”
Polling places must have several types of voting accommodations, according to Shapiro. Poll workers should be trained in disability etiquette and how to help meet a voter’s needs. A voting station also needs to be configured so that a wheelchair user can navigate the area. Voters with disabilities might also need accommodations such as color contrast on the screen, or a large print ballot.
Voters have options available such as assisted curbside voting and electronic ballot marking tools, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.
A polling facility must be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and there is an ADA checklist. But that does not mean the buildings are always easily accessible. Especially in older cities like Richmond, where buildings are retro-fitted and not always easy to use.
Alex Keena is an associate professor in the political science department at Virginia Commonwealth University. Transportation to polling places is another accessibility issue that could affect voter turnout, he said. If it takes way more energy just to cast a vote, then engagement might be lower.
“You have to devote a lot of energy, you have to plan out your route, and if you have a polling place that's like at an old church or an elementary school that may not be as successful,” Keena said. “Then there might be modifications made, but that still makes it a little bit more difficult every step.”
Cesar Dulanto III is a disabilities advocate for the I’m Determined project and the ARC of Virginia, a statewide advocacy organization. Dulanto has cerebral palsy and voted for the first time this year. It is difficult for him to use the paper ballot.
“It’s hard for me to bubble in the circles, so I had one of my siblings describe or read to me the names of the candidates,” Dulanto said. “I told them to select the candidate that I wanted to vote for.”
Dulanto would like to fill the ballot out independently. He would prefer an electronic, absentee ballot that would allow him to use assistive technology software.
“It's all about having the tools to be independent and to be self-determined,” Dulanto said. “That's one thing I strive for is not to depend on people, is to find innovative ways to do it. That’s my dream.”
