Provisions for Voters with Disabilities

Assistance in marking a ballot is allowed only if you are blind, illiterate or physically handicapped. If you are entitled to receive assistance you may choose anyone to assist except your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your union. If you, because of physical handicap or age (65 or older,) cannot enter the polling place in which you are registered to vote, or are unable to stand in line to vote, you may vote outside that polling place in the closest available parking area utilizing the vehicle in which you have driven or have been driven to the polls.

If you are blind, disabled or unable to read or write, you may be given assistance at the polls by a person of your choice as long as that person is not your employer or agent of your employer, or officer or agent of your union.

Every polling place is situated in a building which can be entered and exited by persons who are disabled or elderly. If you are disabled or elderly and the assigned polling place is inaccessible, the local board must provide alternative means for you to cast a ballot on Election Day. DRE machines will be available for the handicapped.

If you cannot mark a ballot because you have a physical disability or cannot read, you may ask any person to help you vote. For more information, you can utilize the American Association of People With Disabilities (AAPD) resource.

Ohio polling places should provide touch screen voting machines and have audio adaptations for assisting the blind. There are also adaptations for voters with lack of muscle control. If you have a disability you may also have assistance by two election officials (of different political parties) or by the person of your choice (except employer or union agent). Poll workers are urged to accommodate voters with disabilities in any way they can. If the polling place is not accessible for you, when possible you may vote curbside.

Voting assistance, curbside voting, and reassignment of polling place are offered to disabled voters.

REASSIGNMENT OF POLLING PLACE

If you are an Oregon voter with a disability, you can receive assistance to register to vote, vote your ballot, or return your ballot by contacting your county elections office office or by calling 1-866-ORE-VOTES. You can also request assistance from a caretaker, care provider or someone else you personally choose.

If you have a disability you may ask for assistance from poll workers at your polling place. If you cannot enter the polling place because of physical disabilities, need help marking your ballot because of physical disabilities, have visual disabilities, or cannot read, you may be assisted by a person of your own choosing. In all these cases, the person who provides assistance to you must swear or affirm that your ballots will be marked in accordance with your wishes.

If you are a disabled voter you may be accompanied by, and receive assistance from, another person of your choice in the voting booth, unless the person is an employer, officer or agent of your union, a candidate running in that election, or a relative of a candidate. The polling place building should have several routes through it, and sufficient signs should be in place to direct you to the most accessible route to the polling location.

Most polling places are now accessible to the handicapped. If yours is not, you may ask to have your records transferred to a nearby accessible polling place where the ballot will be the same as in your election district. You may also vote by absentee ballot. If you have a long-term or permanent illness or disability, you can apply for a permanent absentee ballot and you will automatically receive one before each primary and general election. For additional information, please visit your state's Board of Election.

All polling places have accessible equipment for voting. The vast majority of polling places are handicapped accessible.