election accessibility 2004 christina galindo-walsh national association of protection and advocacy...
TRANSCRIPT
Election Accessibility Election Accessibility 20042004
Christina Galindo-Walsh Christina Galindo-Walsh National Association of Protection National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS)and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS)
Protection and Advocacy Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As)Systems (P&As)
One P&A in each state and U.S. territoryOne P&A in each state and U.S. territory
Services based on community developed Services based on community developed priorities priorities
P&As have a special role in helping to P&As have a special role in helping to ensure voting access to PWDensure voting access to PWD
The P&A Role under The P&A Role under HAVAHAVA
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) directs P&As to help ensure (HAVA) directs P&As to help ensure election access. election access.
P&As P&As cannotcannot use HAVA funds to litigate use HAVA funds to litigate
Access for Voters with Access for Voters with DisabilitiesDisabilities
In 2000In 2000 84% of polling places had some barrier to 84% of polling places had some barrier to
access.access. 27% of counties studied did not take into 27% of counties studied did not take into
account accessibility when selecting polling account accessibility when selecting polling sites.sites.
None of the polling places visited had None of the polling places visited had special ballots or voting equipment adapted special ballots or voting equipment adapted for blind voters. for blind voters.
What did state election What did state election officials site as the biggest officials site as the biggest hurdle? hurdle?
Lack of FundingLack of Funding
Will people with disabilities be Will people with disabilities be able to vote in 2004?able to vote in 2004?
The Key to Voting in The Key to Voting in 2004 . . .2004 . . .
Know your Rights!Know your Rights!
Key Federal Laws that Key Federal Laws that Protect or Assist Voters Protect or Assist Voters with Disabilitieswith Disabilities
The Voting Rights Act of 1965The Voting Rights Act of 1965
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984Handicapped Act of 1984
National Voter Registration Act of 1993National Voter Registration Act of 1993
The Americans with Disabilities ActThe Americans with Disabilities Act
The Help America Vote Act of 2002The Help America Vote Act of 2002
Voting Rights Act (VRA)Voting Rights Act (VRA) Assistance of Choice Assistance of Choice
Covers individuals who are blind, have a Covers individuals who are blind, have a disability or are unable to read or write.disability or are unable to read or write.
PWD have the right to assistance from a PWD have the right to assistance from a person they choose.person they choose.
Assistance from anyone except the voter's Assistance from anyone except the voter's employer or an agent of the voter's union. employer or an agent of the voter's union.
Voting Accessibility for the Elderly Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEHA)and Handicapped Act (VAEHA)
Polling places (generally) to be physically Polling places (generally) to be physically accessible to PWDaccessible to PWD
Alternate means of casting a ballotAlternate means of casting a ballot Registration and voting aids should be Registration and voting aids should be
available for PWD and elderly votersavailable for PWD and elderly voters No specialized documents for absentee No specialized documents for absentee
ballotsballots
National Voter Registration Act National Voter Registration Act (NVRA or “Motor Voter Act”)(NVRA or “Motor Voter Act”)
Increase low registration rates of minorities Increase low registration rates of minorities and PWD. and PWD.
Requires all offices of state-funded Requires all offices of state-funded programs to provide registration programs to provide registration opportunities and assistance. opportunities and assistance.
Americans with Disabilities Act Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)(ADA)
Requires state and local governments to give Requires state and local governments to give PWD an equal opportunity to benefit from all PWD an equal opportunity to benefit from all
of their programs, services and activities, of their programs, services and activities, including voting.including voting.
ADA and VotingADA and Voting
Interpretations of the ADA have found Interpretations of the ADA have found that Title II does that Title II does notnot:: require every polling place be accessible to require every polling place be accessible to
persons with mobility impairmentspersons with mobility impairments guarantee privacy to PWDguarantee privacy to PWD guarantee voter who are blind the right to guarantee voter who are blind the right to
cast their vote in secretcast their vote in secret
Help America Vote Act Help America Vote Act (HAVA)(HAVA)
Replacement of Replacement of antiquated voting antiquated voting machines machines
Improvement of Improvement of election election administrationadministration
Voting complaint Voting complaint procedureprocedure
Standards for Standards for election election administration and administration and technology technology
Provisional ballotsProvisional ballots
Elections Assistance Elections Assistance Commission (EAC)Commission (EAC)
HAVA’s Disability ProvisionsHAVA’s Disability Provisions
Accessible voting machinesAccessible voting machines Right to vote privately and independentlyRight to vote privately and independently Grants to improve physical and nonvisual Grants to improve physical and nonvisual
access to polling places access to polling places P&As to help ensure election accessP&As to help ensure election access PWD in planning for HAVA compliance PWD in planning for HAVA compliance Funds for research on accessible voting Funds for research on accessible voting
technologytechnology
Common problems Common problems experienced by voters with experienced by voters with disabilities disabilities
Inaccessible polling placesInaccessible polling places Voter challenged because of disabilityVoter challenged because of disability Poll workers equipment or other Poll workers equipment or other
accommodationaccommodation Non-traditional signatures questionedNon-traditional signatures questioned Refusal to allow voter to bring assistant of Refusal to allow voter to bring assistant of
choicechoice Refused or rushed assistanceRefused or rushed assistance
What accessibility What accessibility improvements will be in place improvements will be in place
this year because of HAVA?this year because of HAVA? SomeSome accessible voting machines accessible voting machines SomeSome polling places with better polling places with better
accessibility accessibility Some Some poll workers that are better trained poll workers that are better trained
in working with PWD and providing in working with PWD and providing accommodations to them accommodations to them
Our hope: that many more PWD that Our hope: that many more PWD that know their rights!know their rights!
What to do What to do beforebefore Election DayElection Day
Register to vote!Register to vote! Make sure you are on the voter listMake sure you are on the voter list Confirm your polling place and make sure it’s Confirm your polling place and make sure it’s
accessibleaccessible Apply for an absentee ballot if you’ll be out of Apply for an absentee ballot if you’ll be out of
town or can’t make it to the polling place. town or can’t make it to the polling place. Familiarize yourself with the ballot and voting Familiarize yourself with the ballot and voting
equipment you’ll useequipment you’ll use Take advantage of early votingTake advantage of early voting Get a copy of the rights of voters in your stateGet a copy of the rights of voters in your state
What to bring with you What to bring with you on Election Dayon Election Day
Identification Identification A sample ballot and/or your notes on A sample ballot and/or your notes on
candidatescandidates Someone to assist you if you need help Someone to assist you if you need help
voting voting Voting rights palm card Voting rights palm card
Identification Identification
Who Who must must have ithave it Who Who shouldshould bring it …EVERYONE! bring it …EVERYONE! What I.D. is acceptableWhat I.D. is acceptable
current and valid photo identificationcurrent and valid photo identification current utility bill, bank statement, current utility bill, bank statement,
government check, paycheck, or other government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name government document that shows the name and address of the voterand address of the voter
Some states except additional forms of I.D. Some states except additional forms of I.D.
Provisional Ballots Provisional Ballots
Voters whose eligibility is in doubt Not on the voter list Individual that must have I.D. Bonafide legal challenge to voter’s
eligibility Ballot is conditional Counted if eligibility is verified
What to Do if You Experience What to Do if You Experience Election Day ProblemsElection Day Problems
Call toll free --- 1-866-Our-VoteCall toll free --- 1-866-Our-Vote report problems and get informationreport problems and get information receive advice on what to doreceive advice on what to do
Contact your local P&AContact your local P&A Many P&As having voting hotlines as wellMany P&As having voting hotlines as well Assistance with technical disability issuesAssistance with technical disability issues
State Specific Voter InfoState Specific Voter Info
Voters Bill of RightsVoters Bill of Rights www.ourvote.comwww.ourvote.com
Contact your state’s P&AContact your state’s P&A www.napas.orgwww.napas.org
ACLU Voter Empowerment CardsACLU Voter Empowerment Cards http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/http://www.aclu.org/VotingRights/
Need more information?Need more information?
NAPAS website: NAPAS website: www.napas.orgwww.napas.org Contact information for your state’s P&AContact information for your state’s P&A Voting WebpageVoting Webpage
Voting lawsVoting laws Disability Voting ResourcesDisability Voting Resources General Voting Resources General Voting Resources Links to other voting pages on the webLinks to other voting pages on the web
Your Vote is Your Your Vote is Your Voice!Voice!
Let decision makers know Let decision makers know what is important to you what is important to you