Best Practices: Accessibility for Voting By Mail (Full PDF Version)
Voters with disabilities represent approximately one-sixth of the American electorate. This growing demographic encompasses a broad range of voters, including those with mobility, visual, communicative, physical, or cognitive impairments. Voters with disabilities face unique obstacles when exercising their right to vote. There are several sets of laws that have created rights that ensure voters with disabilities can access all portions of the electoral process in a manner that is accessible to them.
An increasing number of states and voters have begun to utilize alternative means of voting, particularly outside of the polling place. Despite the differences in terminology and methodology used to describe voting outside of a polling place, the process must be accessible. According to the EAC’s Disability and Voting Accessibility in the 2020 Election survey conducted by Rutgers University, voters with disabilities were more likely to vote by mail.
This document highlights the primary barriers to voting by mail and provides best practices to help ensure voters with disabilities have equal access to this crucial voting option. Election officials, policymakers, and advocates can utilize this guide's checklists and best practices to better serve this community.
Best Practices: Accessibility for Voting By Mail (Full PDF Version)