Pennsylvanians with disabilities can come across many barriers when trying to cast a ballot. A polling place might not be wheelchair accessible, or the print on the ballot might be too small to read.
Today, several disability advocate groups and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services talked about voting rights for handicapped citizens.
“Voting is an important right for all U.S. citizens, and an important way to speak up,” said Sonny O’Callaghan, a member of the group Self Advocates United as 1.
Speakers said that anyone with physical or mental disabilities has the right to access their right to vote.
“We have the right to an accessible polling place. We have the right to an accessible voting machine at our precinct,” Peru Jude Radecic, part of the group Disability Rights Pennsylvania. The advocacy group helps citizens navigate the legal system and their legal rights.
Accessibility in elections might look like a wheelchair ramp, shorter tables, or specialized voting machines at a polling precinct.
Advocates said that taking time to research what accommodations your county has before the election— can make the day of voting smoother.
“Most counties have videos that show exactly what the process is if you want to use the visual aids or the auditory aids or the tactile keyboards,” Val Arkoosh said, secretary of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services.
Another protection for voters with disabilities?
“Particularly if you're voting in person at the polls, you can bring someone with you to assist you,” said Arkoosh. "That is absolutely allowed and something that you might want to take advantage of just to make sure that everything goes smoothly.”
An assistant might help you get in the polling place, read the ballot to you, fill in the circles or help you with a touchscreen voting machine. You can also use an assistant to help you register to vote and do mail in or early voting.
There is a form that you and the person assisting you must fill out to inform county election offices about your choice to have help voting.
Lastly, advocates today urged all voters to be informed voters.
“Think about what is important to you and find out what can what the candidates think about those things,” said O’Callaghan.