Accessible Voting

Accessible voting refers to the design and implementation of voting systems, processes, and polling places that enable all eligible citizens — including those with disabilities — to cast their ballots independently and privately. Barriers to accessible voting include inaccessible ballot marking devices, physical polling place obstacles, lack of alternative input methods for voters who cannot use standard interfaces, and procedures that require voters with disabilities to use separate equipment or request assistance, compromising their privacy. In the United States, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 mandated minimum accessibility standards for voting systems, though significant gaps remain in practice.