“Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and those priorities begin to show up in the polls.”
~ Peggy Noonan
There has been much in the news in the last few years about voting – where, when, and how it can be done legally – and some of the messaging can feel contradictory, confusing, and downright discouraging. At the same time, it’s more critical than ever that every private citizen, regardless of age or ability, be able to exercise their right to vote and elect officials who are prepared to fight for and enact policies that reflect their priorities. For individuals with a disability, your right to vote is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal civil rights law that requires state and local governments to ensure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. With the upcoming election on April 5, ADRC wants to ensure that all community members are aware of how they can cast a ballot and the resources available to help them. Your vote counts!
KNOW YOUR VOTING RIGHTS
- You have the right to vote privately and independently.
- You have the right to access the polling place, including an accessible route to enter the building. Under federal law, all polling places for federal elections must be fully accessible to older adults and individuals with disabilities.
- You have the right to use an accessible voting machine that allows voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently. Usually this is a machine that can read the ballot to you and let you vote by pushing buttons. Each polling place is required to have an accessible voting machine. Note: early voting locations are not required to have an accessible voting machine.
- You have the right to receive assistance with marking your ballot. You may bring someone to assist you or ask a poll worker. Poll workers are required to assist you if you request it. You cannot receive assistance from your employer or union representative.
- You have the right to ask for reasonable accommodations at the polling place. Examples: a chair to sit, signature guide to sign your name, magnifying glass, assistance stating your name/address, tools to help poll workers communicate with you such as pen/paper or easel for public announcements.
- If you are not able to state your name and address when requested to do so by the poll worker, Wisconsin law allows you to have poll workers or an assistor of your choosing state your name and address on your behalf prior to receiving a ballot. You can also provide your information in writing to poll workers or assistors.
- Curbside voting: If you can’t enter your polling place due to disability, Wisconsin law requires that curbside voting must be available to you. Individuals who are immunocompromised or have symptoms of COVID-19 are also eligible to curbside vote. Curbside voting is required to be available at early voting sites also.
*Voter Tip: Contact your Municipal Clerk in advance of election day to discuss how to access curbside voting. There may be a special area for curbside voting, a bell to ring or you may need to honk your car horn, etc. - A voter with a disability cannot be turned away from the polls because a poll worker thinks they are not ‘qualified’ to vote. Disability or medical diagnosis does not take away the right to vote. Only the courts can take away that right.
For Green Bay, you would contact Celestine Jeffries at (920) 448-3010
For Allouez, you would contact Carrie Zittlow at (920) 448-2800 ext. 111
For Ashwaubenon, you would contact Kris Teske at (920) 492-2302
For De Pere, you would contact Carey Danen at (920) 339-4072 ext. 1355
For Howard, you would contact Annette DuPrey at (920) 434-4640 ext. 0
For Suamico, you would contact Michelle Bartoletti at (920) 434-2212
Other municipalities can be found here: https://www.browncountywi.gov/community/municipalities/.
Still having trouble? Call ADRC at (920) 448-4300 for assistance.
VOTING CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS
Have a voting concern or question? For help with disability related voting questions, including help to file a complaint, contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline at 1-844-347-8683 or visit the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website.
ASSISTANCE WITH VOTING
Contact the Wisconsin Election Commission Toll-free Voter Help Line at 1-866-868-3947 for assistance with voting questions or or check the Wisconsin Election Commission website.
You can view your ballot, check your polling place, and view your voter registration information at My Vote Wisconsin.
You must have an acceptable Photo ID to vote. Find out about the ID you can use at Bring It to the Ballot.
Source: https://disabilityvote.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Voting-Rights-Fact-Sheet-1020-acc.pdf
