Tags: accessible voting, electronic voting, vote-by-mail
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Never before has there been so much controversy about how we will vote in our National General Election. Today, with the coronavirus spreading, shortage of election officials, controversy about mail-in ballots and post office woes, you have to think carefully about how you are going to vote.
November 3, 2020 is Election Day. Whether you are casting your ballot by mail or in-person, voting early or on Election Day, you’ll want to be as informed as possible. The information below can help you understand how you can cast your ballot safely and privately. Remember, each state runs their own election and has differing rules and deadlines. To find your board of election office, visit the “Find My State or Local Election Office” page on the USA.gov website.
You might ask, “What’s the difference between vote-by-mail and voting absentee?”
Every state allows absentee voting. But, you may be asked to provide a reason why you cannot vote in person. The majority of states are relaxing this requirement due to the pandemic. So essentially, there is no difference. Whether you vote-by-mail or absentee, officials check all ballots before they are counted to ensure their integrity.
States use different approaches to distributing ballots. You may have received an actual ballot in the mail or an application for a vote-by-mail ballot. In Illinois, if you are a registered voter, you should have already received your application in the mail. The application is a piece of heavy stock paper, 8 ½” x 11” folded in half, so be careful not to mistake it for junk mail. You must complete and sign this paper application to receive the actual ballot for November’s election.
Allow plenty of time for requesting your ballot and mailing it back to your board of elections. Slowdowns of mail deliveries by the US Post Office have been noted throughout the country. Dropping your ballot off in a designated receptacle may be a safer way to ensure your ballot gets to the right place and is counted. Your ballot must be postmarked no later than November 3, 2020.
Casting your vote on a paper ballot leads to accessibility issues. If you do not have a trusted person to complete your ballot the way you want it completed, what do you do? Stories abound for people who have tried to use a pen with a service like Aira to mark the ballot. According to this man’s experience in the Wisconsin primary, it did not work out well. However, the National Federation of the Blind, American Council of the Blind and disability rights organizations have filed lawsuits citing this inequity as a violation of the ADA. Many state courts have now passed decrees allowing electronic voting for people with print disabilities for the November election.
In the states that have approved this system for people with print disabilities, an electronic ballot is emailed to those requesting this accommodation. The electronic ballots are screen reader accessible. They have been tested by people who are blind or visually impaired, an important step to ensure accessibility. After making your choices, you must print and sign your ballot. You can mail your ballot via the USPS or drop it off at designated ballot receptacles or at your polling place on Election Day.
In Illinois, these ballots are available as of September 24, 2020.
This YouTube video demonstrates how the electronic vote by mail system works.
You can change your mind after completing a vote-by-mail ballot and vote in-person. But, you must surrender your mail-in ballot to your polling place.
For more information about voting, these nonpartisan organizations are helpful:
Kathy is the Community Engagement Specialist at Second Sense