Election Day is in a few weeks and for many, making a voting plan is a crucial thing to do.
Amanda Allen, Board of Elections Director at the Jackson County Board of Elections encourages everyone to make a voting plan.
“I think it’s really important for all of our voters to be making a voting plan,” Allen says.
When making a voting plan Allen advises voters to think of big-picture questions like: who is going with you? Do you need a ride? Do you need help with the machine?
For disabled voters, there are multiple options and resources to help when voting that they may not be aware of.
Carolyn Sipe, a senior citizen with mobility issues, plans to vote in person in Caldwell County. She was unaware of the accessible equipment like curbside voting and equipment available for voters with low vision.
Thomas Ste. Marie has progressively lost motor functions due to multiple sclerosis since 2002. In 2019, Ste. Marie realized it would be easier to request and submit mail-in ballots. Ste. Marie, much like Sipe, was unaware of the accessible equipment available to him.
Allen says the first step to figuring out what resources you need is to decide if you will be voting in person or by mail.
For mail-in ballots, there is accessibility built into the State website. The State Board of Elections has a portal for those who have low vision on their website. You can access this ballot by going to the State website and requesting an absentee ballot, in which you may check the box for an accessible ballot.
For those who decide to vote in person, Allen says there are multiple resources inside the Jackson County Board of Elections disability voters can utilize.
In person voting
If interested in voting in the precinct, voters have access to express vote machines that have multiple resources to help fit the needs of those using them. Express vote machines provide space for voters with mobility issues who are either in wheelchairs or need to sit when voting the ability to do so.
In the Jackson County Board of Elections, there is equipment to help those who have difficulty viewing the machines, such as headphones to listen to what is on the screen, brail keypads that allow the options to be read to you, and the changing of screen settings to make the font size bigger.
Voter assistance is also available to those in need.
“A voter has the right to ask for assistance at any point, and they’re able to pick who they want to have assistance from,” says Allen.
Allen says precinct workers are trained to be aware of what goes on and what a voter might need.
Curbside voting
Voters can stay in their car as a poll worker comes out with a voting machine with paper-printed ballots. When voting curbside, Allen says voters still have full secrecy and access to assistance if needed when voting curbside.
“The overarching message for all of our voters regardless of disability, race, age or newness to the community is that we make an effort to not turn anyone away,” Allen says.
See the accessibly equipment used in Jackson County.
