Election Day is Almost Here! Learn About Accessible Voting from the Accessibility Advisory Committee
2024 is a big year for voting, and we in the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) like to remind our community that all of our friends should have access to vote, including those with disabilities.
As a government activity, individuals may request reasonable accommodations for voting or ask for assistance with the voting process. This is done at the state level, through Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State has a specific document with information for Voters with Disabilities.
Accessible Voting Units
Accessible Voting Units, or AVUs, are available at voting stations 18 days before the election in Washington. AVUs must meet specific accessibility standards, just as all polling places must meet the building code (in Washington State this is the International Building Code) for accessibility standards. An example of polling accessibility standards can be found on the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division website, with the ADA Checklist for Polling Places.
Assisted Voting
Each vote center has voting machines with audio, large print ballots, and other assistive tools for those who would like to vote with alternative formats or who need assistance from an elections staff member. Have questions about how to prepare to vote as a person with a disability? Check out the Q&A on the U.S. Vote Foundation’s Washington Resources for Voters with Disabilities.
Resources
- Accessible Voting Options – King County’s general information about options for accessible voting.
- Accessible Voting – General information about voting as a person with a disability in Washington State.
- Accessibility Advisory Committee YouTube Playlist – The AAC YouTube playlist has a variety of videos, with PowerPoints, presentations performed by members, and recordings of past workshops at Shoreline. Let us know about specific topics that you think would be interesting for us to develop into videos!
How are we doing?
Please submit feedback about the information that the Accessibility Advisory Committee shares to Miranda Levy via email at mlevy@shoreline.edu so that the committee can review together and serve the campus community better.
