Both the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 require polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Unfortunately, due to a lack of enforcement of the law, many polling places are still located in church basements and upstairs meeting halls that lack ramps and elevators. As a result, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) reports that people with disabilities register to vote at a rate of 16 to 20 percent less than the rest of the population.

Because more than 35 million voting-age people (one fifth of the population) have disabilities, this discrepancy in voter turnout makes it clear that if people with disabilities were to turn out to the polls in higher numbers, their votes could greatly influence election results. In fact, NOD reports that if people with disabilities voted at the same rate as the rest of America, there would have been at least 5 million more votes cast in the 1996 presidential election.

Leviticus 19:14 states, "You shall not insult the deaf, or place a stumbling block before the blind." Jewish tradition teaches us of our obligation to ensure equal access for all people and to help facilitate the full participation of individuals with disabilities in our communities. There are a number of ways you can help ensure that congregants with disabilities are able to cast their ballots and make their voices heard on Election Day.

• Create a comprehensive list of known voting-age congregants with disabilities, including those who are elderly.
• Make calls or visits to discuss voting options. Bring a copy of voter registration forms; assist individuals with disabilities in filling out and mailing in the forms.
• Supply individuals with information they need about upcoming elections. For example, supply large-print copies of informational materials or provide rides to and from community forums.
• The Help America Vote Act requires all polling places to have at least one accessible voting machine for voters with vision impairments however, not all voters may be comfortable using these machines. Federal law mandates that blind voters be permitted accompaniment by an aide of their choice to help them vote. Offer to accompany a blind community member to the polls, taking care to assure the person that you will fill out the ballot according to his or her preference.
• Check (in advance) to make sure your local polling places are fully accessible to individuals with disabilities. Check for elevators, lifts, ramps, disability-accessible parking spots, etc. Where such accessibility aids do not exist, contact your local Board of Elections to address these issues.
• In some jurisdictions, pre-Election Day voting orientations are conducted for voters with mental disabilities. Find out if such orientations exist in your area.
• Poll workers sometimes challenge the voting rights of individuals with disabilities when they arrive on Election Day. Contact your chief local election official in advance to establish a system under which such challenges can be immediately rectified should they occur. In some communities, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union provide on-call lawyers on Election Day to ensure that every registered voter is permitted to cast a ballot.

Helpful Links:
Is your polling place fully accessible? Find out using the ADA Checklist.

For more comprehensive information about accessibility, absentee voting and more, visit the American Association of People with Disabilities Voter Registration and the National Organization on Disability's Voter Guide.