What Disabled Voters Need to Know to Cast Their Ballot in 2024

By Fran Kritz 

Published on October 26, 2024 

Key Takeaways

• Around 40 million people with disabilities are eligible to vote in 2024.
• Recent changes to voting laws in some states may create barriers for disabled voters, especially after some pandemic-related accommodations have been reversed.
• Disabled voters have the right to bring a helper to the polls, and resources are available to ensure they can cast their ballot.

A new report from the Rutgers Program for Disability Research estimates that 40.2 million people with disabilities will be eligible to vote in November. This represents a 5.1% increase from 2020, largely due to an aging population and medical advances that have extended the lives of people with disabilities.¹

“People with disabilities are the sleeping tiger in American politics,” said Lisa Schur, PhD, co-director of the Rutgers University Program for Disability Research. “They represent a large and growing portion of the electorate and could make a critical difference in the outcome of this and future elections.”

According to the report, the most common disability is mobility impairment, followed by cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, and visual impairment. Schur noted that many people have more than one disability, leading to overlap between groups.¹

Disabled voters make up a larger portion of the electorate (40.2 million) than Hispanic/Latino voters (35.7 million) or Black voters (31.1 million). Additionally, 7.1 million disabled voters reside in key battleground states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.¹

While mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic improved accessibility for disabled voters, recent laws in several states could make voting more difficult, according to Schur.

How to Navigate Voting With Disabilities

The first step for any voter to participate in an election is making sure that you’re registered to vote. While some states have ended registration for the 2024 presidential election, others have same-day registration, said Michelle Bishop, manager of voter access and engagement at the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) in Washington, DC.

If you’re already registered but need to update your information, such as a name or address change, you may still be able to vote. Registration deadlines by state can be found on the National Conference of State Legislatures website.

Bishop added that the right to vote includes people with cognitive disabilities.

“Election law in the U.S. does not really define cognitive disability,” Bishop said. “Even if you have a disability diagnosis or live in a psychiatric or residential facility, you are still eligible to vote, though states can have more restrictive criteria.”

She noted that most states have laws restricting voting rights based on voter “competency,” but typically, a judge would need to make that determination. The NDRN provides a guide to voting with cognitive disabilities that can help individuals and caregivers.

Bishop said the NDRN has received reports of disabled voters being turned away at polling places. In those cases, a poll worker cannot challenge the eligibility of a voter based on their disability.

“We also sometimes hear about a person with a disability bringing the assistant of their choosing to help them vote, which is their right under the Voting Rights Act, and being denied that assistant,” Bishop said. “In the moment, a voter can always contact our state affiliate in their state or Election Protection—either is ready to help on the day of and make sure you get to vote.”

Bishop said that anyone with a disability who wants to vote should think through these steps of the voting process:

1. Am I registered, and is my registration up to date? (check via the NCSL website or via vote.gov)
2. Will I vote in person early or on election day or vote by mail? 
3. What’s on my ballot? 
4. Where is my poll site, and is that location accessible to me? 
5. How will I get there and get back? 
6. What type of ID do I need? (You should receive this information by mail or check vote.gov for information about your state.)
7. Do I need an assistant, and who do I think would be able to best assist me? 

“We find that thinking about all this before election day can alleviate stress and prevent unwanted surprises on election day,” Bishop said. “Plus, if you are voting by mail or plan to vote early, make the plan early and put it into action early.”

Tips for Voting on the Day of the Election

If you need assistance on election day, call the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, here’s what you can do at your poll site:²

• You can bring a family member or friend to help you at the polls, but inform the poll workers when you check in. They may ask you to swear under oath that you have a disability and that you’ve requested help. Your helper may also need to sign a form swearing that they didn’t influence your vote.
• If standing in long lines is difficult, ask a poll worker for a chair or a place to sit while you wait. If crowds or noise are overwhelming, you can request a quiet waiting area.
• If your poll site is not fully accessible, ask for curbside assistance. In some states, a poll worker can bring the voting materials to your car so you don’t need to go inside.
• If you have difficulty using the materials provided to make your ballot selections, review, or cast your ballot, let a poll worker know and ask for the help you need. 

You can find more voting resources at The Arc, a disability advocacy group.

How to Improve Voting Accessibility for People With Disabilities

Social isolation is likely the biggest factor affecting voter turnout for disabled individuals, according to Schur.

“People with disabilities are less likely to be part of social networks that encourage them to vote,” Schur said. “People with disabilities are also somewhat more likely than people without disabilities to believe the political system is not responsive to people like them which can discourage someone from voting.”

Schur said her research group’s surveys show there has been significant progress since 2012 in reducing voting barriers, although many disabled voters may not be aware of the improvements.

At the same time, certain states have also “scaled back the policies that made it easier to vote during the pandemic, and these restrictions can especially impact people with disabilities,” she added.

Bishop said that most voters will “not have to jump through hoops of fire to cast a ballot” and emphasized that disabled voters and their vote matter.

What This Means For You

If you’re a disabled voter, it’s crucial to ensure your voter registration is up to date and understand the specific voting options available in your state. Early planning, knowing your rights, and seeking assistance if needed can help you navigate any challenges on election day.

This article was originally published by VeryWell Health.