Voting is a crucial part of society that can result in significant changes to the way people live their lives. Not being able to vote because of a disability can be incredibly frustrating. You may not have to deal with voting barriers if you were blocked from reasonable disability accommodations and accessibility to voting. Talk to a Pennsylvania disability attorney to learn more about what your legal options are.

Disability Accessibility Rights for Voting 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is designed to protect people with disabilities from being unfairly discriminated against based on the impairments of their disability. These laws cover a wide variety of places, including polling places that offer voting services. Knowing about polling place accessibility laws may help you recognize when you are being unfairly treated.

Accessibility to polling places revolves primarily around physical accessibility but may also include accessibility-related to communication and the voting process itself. Physical accessibility looks like having ramps when stairs are present, wide enough doorways and halls for wheelchairs, parking accommodations, and building accommodations.

Parking accommodations include designated parking spaces with enough space for assistive devices and wheelchairs. These accommodations also include passenger drop-off locations where people with disabilities can be dropped off at the entrance. Accessible routes must exist outside with sidewalks and ramps and inside with wide enough spaces for wheelchairs.

This involves building accommodations like adequate space, railings, ensuring objects on the wall do not protrude past a limit, accessible door handles and automatic doors, and elevators. Communication-related accommodations may include translator services, braille, larger printed words, screen magnifiers, and staff to assist those with disabilities. 

Common Voting Barriers for Those with Disabilities

Many people face voting disability barriers that can prevent them from being able to vote. Some of the most common types of disability barriers include physical barriers, communication barriers, legal or institutional barriers, and stigma barriers. Physical barriers look like not being able to physically enter the building or voting areas.

Communication barriers can take many forms depending on the impairments caused by any given disability. Some examples of communication barriers include not being able to read the voting choices, not being able to verbally answer questions, and not being provided adequate instructions. Legal or institutional barriers may include stopping people with certain disabilities from voting.

Stigma-related barriers may involve family members not registering loved ones to vote due to a specific disability. This may go further and lead to not transporting those loved ones to polling places. In either of these various situations that involve barriers, you might be able to take legal action to regain your access to voting. Try contacting a Pennsylvania disability lawyer to learn more about what you can do.

Call Edelstein & Nelson Today

Facing barriers to voting because of your disability can be disheartening. Consider asking a Pennsylvania disability lawyer about your legal options if you were blocked from voting because of a disability. Do not hesitate to call Edelstein & Nelson today at (800) 300-0909 for a consultation about what legal steps you can take. Our legal team is ready to help you take legal action.