 |
Voting Rights and the ADA
- The Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) makes it illegal for state
and local governments to discriminate on the basis of disability in their
programs, services
and activities.
-
Specifically, the ADA entitles people with disabilities to reasonable accommodations
necessary to enable them to participate in government programs, such
as registering to vote and casting a ballot.
-
The ADA also prohibits states from setting eligibility criteria that
prevent people with disabilities from voting unless those criteria
are "necessary."
-
Contact this organization if you or someone you know needs reasonable accommodations
at any stage of the voting process because of a mental disability.
Example of reasonable accommodations are instructions explained in simpler
language,
or being accompanied into the voting booth by a friend or family member,
or getting assistance in casting a ballot.
-
Contact this organization if you or someone you know cannot vote because
of a state law or practice barring people with mental disabilities from
voting.
An example would be if you have been told you cannot vote because you
are in a hospital or because you have a guardian. Such restrictions may
be too broad
and therefore illegal.
|
|
 |
