Obstacles like stairs, a steep ramp and poor signage can make it more difficult for people with disabilities to access polling sites, said a Cortland advocate.
“Once inside it's frequently crowded and not laid out very well so it can be hard to navigate,” said Erin Vallely, an advocacy specialist with Access to Independence. “Lastly, there's frequently staff that don't remember what to do to help someone with accessibility needs or how to work the accessible voting machines.”
Sixty percent of American election polling sites had at least one impediment to voters with disabilities, according to a 2016 study by the federal Government Accountability Office; it also reported nearly 40 million Americans with disabilities were eligible to vote in the 2020 election, making it an issue that hinders the democratic process.
“I think voting accessibility has definitely improved over the years, but it's still not accessible to many people,” Vallely said. “Transportation to the polls is still a big issue as well as physical accessibility once you get to a polling place.”
Vallely said accessible voting machines are tools that allow a board of elections to essentially digitize a ballot, making it easier for voters with certain disabilities to cast their ballots.
“It has text to speech functions, so people who are visually impaired or struggle to read can have it read to them. And people who physically struggle with writing can hit buttons on an easy controller,” Vallely said. “It honestly looks like a video game console at an arcade.”
The Cortland County Board of Elections has similar devices. Voting machine technician Olivia Hersey said it’s called the Audio Tactile Interface, and it allows users to manipulate the screen of a voting machine with large, colorful buttons. Voters also have access to headphones if they need an audio component.
“We are required by Election Law to follow accessibility,” said Tom Brown, the county’s Democrat election commissioner. “It’s part of our system. When a person goes in who has a special need, there is an option for someone who is hearing impaired or has vision issues or trouble manipulating a pen.”
Brown said the county now offers visually impaired voters the option to apply for special braille absentee ballots so they can vote privately.
He urged voters with disabilities to reach out at polling places with accessibility concerns. “If they’re having an issue at the poll site, they can let an inspector know right there,” he said. “And definitely contact our office. We need to know if we’re missing something.”
Vallely said it is important for voters with disabilities to learn the accommodations to which they’re entitled.
“There's a lot of accommodations that you are entitled to,” she said. “If you request it early enough, you can vote from home using an absentee ballot… Inside (polling places), you can ask for someone to help you fill out your ballot whether you need someone to read it or write for you. Or you can use an accessible voting machine to vote independently if you want to do that.”
Vallely said many places offer curbside voting for voters with disabilities; Cortland does not, according to Brown.
Vallely said Access to Independence can help those with disabilities determine which options are best for them. “To my knowledge we can't act as an assistant to help people vote, but we can help people prepare for their voting experience,” she said
“If people have concerns or questions, we can definitely try to help them find solutions,” she said. “We do our best to educate people on their voting rights and can talk through their rights and what options are best for them.”
Vallely said voters should reach out to the Board of Elections if they feel they cannot access polling sites. “And, honestly, they should call ATI too afterwards,” she said.
For infringements of voting rights, people can reach the American Civil Liberties Union’s election hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
