Voter Suppression and Accommodations for People with Disabilities
- Sam Shepherd
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
By Kaylie Foster
Although the right to vote is enshrined throughout the United States Constitution’s amendments, people with disabilities continue to face voter suppression in various forms. Voting is imperative to best represent the diverse needs of Americans with disabilities. Accommodations must be offered to ensure elections are accessible.
Historically, people with disabilities have often voted at a lower rate than abled Americans. In the 2022 midterms, disabled voter turnout was 1.5% lower than non-disabled turnout – a margin that appears small but accounts for 15.6 million Americans [1]. Of those voters, 14.28% encountered difficulty during the voting process [1].
Turnout varied among Americans with different disabilities in 2022. Those with hearing impairment had a 60% turnout, and those with visual impairment or difficulty walking voted at nearly 51%. Conversely, Americans with mental or cognitive disabilities (such as intellectual and developmental disabilities), difficulty dressing or bathing, and difficulty going outside alone voted at rates as low as 38% [1]. This variance shows that a wide variety of accommodations are necessary to make voting accessible to all.
Studies show that health and voting are interconnected. Disabled voters and others in poor health are less likely to vote, are underrepresented, and have less sway over policy than able-bodied voters. However, when people with disabilities vote in higher numbers, there are often better healthcare outcomes in subsequent policy decisions [2]. Giving agency to people with disabilities can benefit the health outcomes of all Americans.
Types of voter suppression among people with disabilities
People with disabilities experience a multitude of challenges, both policy-related and practical, when it comes to voting. Everything from legal hangups like guardianship cases to physically inaccessible polling sites limit voter turnout among people with disabilities.
During hearings related to guardianship and conservatorship, people with disabilities must prove their desire and competency to vote in some states, a requirement no other American group has. In some states, a person under guardianship automatically loses their right to vote, while in others, the subject of the guardianship case must prove their understanding of election proceedings to retain their rights [3].
In recent years, many states have introduced ID requirements at polling places, favoring “election security.” These laws unfairly restrict voting access among several marginalized groups, including people with disabilities. Around 7.5% of Americans with disabilities do not possess a state-issued ID, compared to only 4.8% of non-disabled Americans [4].
Polling places are often not as accessible as they are required to be under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). In 2022, 60% of the 178 polling places reviewed for accessibility had one or more potential impediments, including steep ramps or a lack thereof, inadequate parking (such as gravel lots or limited spaces), or insufficient signage [1].
While absentee and mail-in voting can help provide access to some, the process is often long and riddled with obstacles. Absentee ballots lack critical tools to help people with disabilities, especially those with visual impairments, because ballots are only offered in printed paper form. Returning ballots can be challenging for people with mobility issues [1].
People with disabilities can also face challenges when it comes to the honesty and availability of voting helpers. Despite having the right to a helper of choice through the Voting Rights Act of 1965, helpers can potentially gatekeep or change the ballot without the expressed consent of the disabled person. Voters in nursing facilities or other institutions may be questioned on their competency or face challenges returning their ballot [5].
Other barriers for people with disabilities include difficulty reading or interpreting the ballot, restricted access to learning materials that explain candidates and ballot measures, inaccessible websites, difficulty registering to vote, unclear instructions and complicated language, and complications with transportation to and from polling places and registration sites [5].
Accommodations needed by voters with disabilities
People with disabilities deserve equal access to voting and are protected by federal law, but accommodations must be made readily available to continue fostering access to voting. Archaic laws that prevent disabled Americans from voting must be modified to best serve all eligible voters.
A growing number of states are eradicating competency requirements in guardianship hearings because these laws unfairly limit the voting rights of people with disabilities. The American Bar Association recommends that people are assumed competent unless they cannot communicate a desire to vote, with or without assistance [3].
In some cases, disabled voters are offered military-style electronic ballots, so they can vote absentee with more ease. This way, people with disabilities can use home-based assistive technology when filling out absentee ballots, and they do not face the complication of returning ballots through the mail or a drop box. Cybersecurity concerns prevent electronic ballots from being more available [1].
Over half of the 50 states have curbside voting options, and roughly two-thirds of states allow for disabled people to have someone deliver their ballot on their behalf. Tools like curbside voting are imperative in making polling places that are not yet ADA-compliant accessible [1].
When at a polling place, people with disabilities are entitled to assistance from poll workers. Poll workers can help disabled people read and use machines, and they are prohibited from inquiring about a voter’s disability. If a voter needs assistance filling out a ballot, both a Republican and a Democrat poll worker are required to assist for the sake of honesty [5].
Disabled voters can greatly benefit from education and guidance by friends and family. Supported decision-making principles, like those outlined by the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), encourage non-disabled people to help their loved ones make voting decisions by explaining how parts of the vote will affect the daily life of the disabled person. By patiently listening, using slow and plain language, and relating ballot measures to personal experiences, family members can guide a person with disabilities through the decision-making process without applying pressure or gatekeeping [5].
The NDRN recommends allowing disabled people to have extra time with their ballots because more time can lead to more accuracy from the voter. Plain language materials and alternatives to signature matching requirements open opportunities for disabled voters’ voices to be heard [5]. With adjustments to the voting process and disenfranchising laws, elections can become more accessible to Americans with disabilities.
This article is part two of a two-part series. To read part one, click here.
Sources
[1] NCLS. (2025). Voters with disabilities. National Conference of State Legislatures.
[2] Miller, N. S. (2024, March 27). Barriers to voting for people with disabilities: A research
roundup. The Journalist’s Resource. https://journalistsresource.org/home/barriers-to-
voting-for-people-with-disabilities-an-explainer-and-research-roundup/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COut%20of%2050%20states%20and,by%20the%20American%20Bar%20Association.
[3] Edwards, E. (2025, September 12). Inconsistent and Arbitrary Competency Laws Restrict
Voter Access for Individuals with Disabilities and Under Conservatorship. Fair Elections
restrict-voter-access-for-individuals-with-disabilities-and-under-conservatorship/
[4] Carden, E. (2022, August 24). Impact of voter ID laws on people with disabilities.
disabilities/
[5] NDRN. (2022, March 14). Voting accommodations for people with mental disabilities.
National Disability Rights Network. https://www.ndrn.org/resource/voting-
accommodations-for-people-with-mental-
disabilities/#:~:text=What%20are%20some%20barriers%20people%20with%20mental%
20disabilities%20face%20in%20voting?&text=Because%20of%20real%20or%20perceiv
ed,in%20line%20at%20the%20polls.
