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Just a list of things that may be helpful on Election day. Updated 6:28 p.m. CT
What if I Have Problems Voting?
- If you arrive at polls and find that you aren’t registered, in some states you may find you can register to vote on election day.
- If you have registered but don’t show up on the rolls because you were removed as an inactive voter or some other BS reason, in most states you can demand a provisional ballot.
- BUT there are additional steps you must take for your vote to be counted. The linked page has a state by state chart, but click on your linked state law to see what the exact requirements are.
- Here are three ways to report a problem.
- You can also send a text for help. Text “Our vote” to 97779 for help from the Election Protection coalition
What if I don’t trust the machine?
The regular Google homepage has changed to “Go Vote” instead of Google when I use their app on my phone.
- You can request a paper ballot.
- Ask the poll workers if there is a confirmation screen or a receipt. Double check the final confirmation screen before you submit your vote or your receipt before you leave.
- Check your state and local voting information website to see if they update your online data to indicate whether or how you voted.
- If you voted by absentee ballot, the Federal Voting Assistance program will tell you whether you can confirm receipt online in your state.
What if I don’t know my polling place?
- You can ask Google. Seriously there is a dedicated page at that link on Election day. Mine was pre-filled with my address in my phone. (My comfort level with telling Google Maps my home addy varies…)
- Some states send you a sample ballot with this information on it or with it. Others have it on their website. If you don’t find it readily in your state site, check your county site.
- Text “vote” to 50409 to sign up for Resistbot. It’s free and has no ads. Once you’re signed up, text “polls.”
What if I need other information about voting?
- You can often get a ballot online if you don’t receive one in the mail. There’s also a tool at vote.org that will find your ballot by address.
- Not sure what your voting rights are? Check voting law at the Brennan Center for Justice.
- If you have trouble finding your state’s voting information site, vote.org also has a state by state lookup.
- Voting from overseas? Your ballot may not be due before Election Day, or you may be able to email/fax in your ballot.
- If you’re overseas and didn’t receive your ballot by Election Day there’s a Federal Absentee ballot. You need to know who is on your ballot to use it, and check the top of the form to see if you can use this form if you’re not registered.
- Are you in a Battleground state? Ask Ballotopedia — but vote anyway! There are also important local elections you might not be aware of and the outcomes may affect your life directly.
- Another handy tool is the Resistbot website. Sign up to get texts (no ads!) – text vote to 50409. Then you can use their system to look up voter ID requirements, find your polls, volunteer, invite your friends to vote and much more.
What if I’m a Disabled* Voter?
* I do not use people-first language.
It implies that disabilities are a negative that has to be overcome by recognizing personification before neutral medical facts about ourselves. I am a disabled person and I reject that entire premise.
It’s a little intimidating to vote, especially at a busy place, as a disabled voter.
We are so constantly robbed of our agency by both well-meaning and harm-meaning people that the very thought of attempting to vote may make you anxious.
I still think standing in the long line to vote in 2008 directly contributed to my subsequent decline.
I was never the same after that day in many positive ways but it also marked the public part of my physical decline.
All because I was still hiding my disability from my family, thinking my disability was a negative via internalized ableism. I was too proud to vote early with a mobility aid on my own.
And as you probably know, having to ask for accomodations may mean you are treated unfairly or in a way that damages your health.
People around you may wonder why you didn’t vote by mail-in ballot. Of course they don’t realize
- Not all states have mail-in voting.
- You may be disabled but not qualified to vote by mail by your state’s definition.
- It may be completely unclear who is considered disabled – the risk of voting by mail is then too great as you have no way to know your vote will be tallied.
Then there’s the complication of trust. Some of us live with overbearing, intrusive or abusive relatives, “friends” or caregivers become we have no choice.
Perhaps you’re not able to fill out your ballot or there could be someone in your home who you cannot trust not to tamper with it.
Or you don’t want to disclose your party allegiance, etc. — it makes mail-in ballots a complicated issue. In-oerson voting may be the only option you have to be sure you can vote safely and accurately.
So here is some information about voting as a disabled person.
Current Federal law protects your right to Be accommodated
Despite this Administration’s tampering with the original Americans with Disabilities Act, you still have a federally protected right to accessible voting, and to be assisted with the voting process if necessary.
“Disabled” has a wide range including temporary states and non-apparent disability
Whether you are temporarily disabled by a hospital stay, have a permanent physical disability, are a wheelchair user or have a disability that is not apparent, you have the right to accessible voting places and/or helped with the voting process on site.
Accessible polling location details may be on your county site instead of your State site
Again, check both state and county sites for information on voting accommodations for voters who have disabilities. Sometimes the state site is a mess but the county site is accessible and vice versa.
I’ve also found blog posts from the present year to be helpful- some if the early voting sites are also used on election day.
How you are accommodated varies by State
Accommodations vary from State to state as well. It’s good to find out exactly what they offer in advance.
You can bring a helper or advocate as long as they aren’t associated with your employer
If you need to avoid going back and forth, or may otherwise need help, you can bring an advocate or helpet.
That person should be willing and able to ask the voting clerk or poll worker what the accommodations are on your behalf.
If you’re not able to call ahead, they can go ask how you can safely access the polling area, and whether they expect you’ll be able to complete the process in the time you’ve allotted.
Some states let your helper skip the line with you or cut the line to vote after helping.
Should you need help operating the machine, they are required to swear they will fill the screen or forms out as you indicate.
If you have a helper or advocate, before arriving to the polls remind your advocate what accessibility means to you. Some places loosely interpret the law or simply don’t comply as there are few consequences.
You can use the same hotline for help with problems voting
With or without an advocate if even one stair or lack of wide doorways will mean you won’t be able to vote, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or text “Our Vote” to 97779 for help.
Accessing additional resources
The American Election Assistance Commission has a list of online resources for disabled voters.
It includes an ADA checklist for polling places, handy if a poll worker claims ignorance of the law, and to know yourself exactly what you can demand.
In some states, like Texas, where I now live, you can call ahead to the polling place to ask about how they are prepared or to have them ready to expedite you when you arrive.
Numbers should be on your state or county site.
Voting in Texas?
I currently live in North Texas so here’s what I know from my personal experience early voting.
The county websites are better than the default state site. Texas does not have same-day registration.
There’s a much better dedicated Vote Texas site [ mobile version| full site]. When in doubt, use Vote Texas site, but caution – the full version hard to browse by voice. The other was is old af but more accessible for some because of that.
Weirdly it’s easier to get to the disability information on the Vote Texas full site than the mobile site.
Curbside voting information is near the bottom.
Those of us with “special needs” including language barriers, are entitled to Priority Voting under Texas’ updated Voting Act, Section 63.0013 (I know right!?) The notice is often posted at polling locations and is called the “Notice of Voting Priority” [PDF]
All of us with disabilities, apparent or not, are to be allowed to skip to the front of the line or vote curbside. (Mind. Blown.)
You do not have to prove nor “perform” your disability. Read, save or print the pamphlet [PDF] of your rights to have on-hand if you suspect you’ll need verification.
I early voted at a local courthouse that had virtually no line, and had these laws posted at the entrance
I was offered access to a special machine where I could sit down before I even asked. They spotted my cane and helped right away.
More of my early voting experience is in the Google Bulletin embedded below this section.
The exception to the Texas accommodation rule is that counties with less than 20,000 people an accessible machine (one you can use seated in a chair or wheelchair) may not be available. This info is in the pamphlet of rights.
Whether an accessible machine is available or not, any disability that makes it hard for you to vote gives you the right to bring anyone to help who is not affiliated with your employer so you can vote.
There has to be a ramp and an entrance 32 inches wide at each polling place.
Stairs at polling locations must have guard rails.
Click the photo below for my experience voting in Arlington Texas.
Update 6:28 p.m: see election results online
- turn off our phones or notifications,
- turn off network television,
- watch a couple of movies
- and check back in at nine or ten when the numbers are all in.