Q. How do I apply for an accessible absentee ballot?
A. Voters with print disabilities may apply for an accessible electronic absentee voter ballot that can be completed electronically, printed, and returned to the local clerk.
- The absentee request form is available in Large Print
- You may also request an accessible electronic ballot online due to disability
- You have the option to join the permanent accessible absent voter list by selecting the box on your application. A link to the application will be emailed to you before each election.
- You will need to print the ballot, place the ballot in a ballot envelope, and sign the designated envelope before returning it through mail or in person
- You are entitled to assistance returning the ballot to your local clerk
Q. How do I vote in person with an accessible voting machine?
A. All voters, including voters with disabilities, have access to a Voter Assist Terminal in all polling places. The Voter Assist Terminal helps the voter mark a ballot. It will mark the ballot with the voter’s choices but does not tally the votes. Once the ballot is marked, it is counted in exactly the same fashion as all other ballots.
Q. What equipment will I use?
A. Wayne County uses Liberty Vote. Click here to learn more about the system.
Q. How can I prepare to use these machines?
A. Michigan provides a YouTube playlist with videos detailing how to use the accessible voting machines. You can also contact your local election official for more information or assistance.
Q. What to expect outside the polling place
A. You have the right to an accessible polling place and an accessible voting machine. During the early voting period or on Election Day, you can send someone into the polling place to request curbside voting on your behalf. The election inspectors will bring a ballot outside so you can vote. Election officials must consider accessibility outside the polling place. You should expect:
- Unblocked doorways
- Alternatives to stairs such as ramps or elevators
Q. What to expect inside the polling place
A. You have the right to vote independently using an accessible voting machine. If you would like to use an accessible voting machine, tell an election official when you arrive to vote.
You have the right to assistance from the election officials. You can ask the election officials for instructions on how to use the voting equipment or assistance at any time, even after you’ve entered the voting booth.
If you are blind, disabled, or unable to read or write, you have the right to assistance from anyone you choose. However, the person cannot be:
- Your employer
- An agent of your employer
- An officer or agent of your labor union
Election officials must consider accessibility inside the polling place. You should find:
- Adequate lighting and seating
- At least 1 voting station that can accommodate a person who is seated
- Access to a Voter Assist Terminal
Q. What are my voting rights per state and federal law?
The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (VAEHA) requires accessible polling places in federal elections for elderly individuals and people with disabilities. Where no accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, voters must be provided an alternate means of voting in person on Election Day.
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires at least one accessible voting system for persons with disabilities at each polling place in federal elections. The accessible voting system must provide the same opportunity for access and participation, including privacy and independence, that other voters receive.
If you want to check that your polling location meets these standards or find an alternative polling location, contact your local election official.
Everyone has a right to:
- Accessible voter registration
- Accessible polling places
- Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
- Accessible, available, and operational voting systems
- Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
- The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
- Assistance from a person of your choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent or someone who has authority over you at work)
Q. What if I’m unable to stand long enough to wait in line?
A. If you are unable to stand in line, you can request:
- Curbside voting
- To be moved to the front of the line or refuse to be moved to the front of the line
- That a chair be provided or refuse to accept a chair
- To have your place in line held and notified when it is your turn
Language access
Absentee ballots can be requested in:
- Large Print
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Farsi
If you do not read or write English and a ballot is not available in your language, you have the right to assistance from anyone you choose. However, the person cannot be:
- Your employer
- An agent of your employer
- An officer or agent of your labor union
Q. Something went wrong? What can I do now?
A. You can contact the Michigan Secretary of State by filling out an online form and selecting a reason for contact from the list.
To speak with the Ombudsperson (person who handles complaints) for voters with disabilities, you can call 517-335-2730.
You can email the Bureau of Elections at Elections@Michigan.gov if you believe that an election official has violated the Help America Vote Act.
You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:
- Online, through the form’s submission process – this is the fastest method.
- By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints” at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
- By mailing your form to:
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division
ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20530
For additional assistance, The National Network of ADA Centers can provide local contact information for other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources.
Sources: usvotefoundation.org, mvic.sos.state.mi.us, michigan.gov