Preparing For Election Day With A Communication Condition

It’s that time of the year once again — people around the nation are making their Election Day plans. On Tuesday, November 11, Americans will head to the polls to cast their votes and exercise their constitutional rights. Some of those people will have aphasia or other speech or language conditions.

Disability can profoundly affect one’s ability to participate in essential elements of democratic practice, such as voting. Approximately 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability. This group of Americans faces some of the greatest barriers to voting in our elections. In 2020, more than 11% of voters with disabilities faced some type of difficulty casting their ballots.

Knowing Your Rights

While accessibility in general remains insufficient, it’s important to note that as a U.S. citizen, you have rights. At the federal level, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides protections to people with disabilities. Title II of the ADA requires that state and local governments ensure that people with disabilities have full and equal opportunities to vote. Likewise, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) allows voters who require assistance to receive said assistance from a person of the voter’s choice.

In addition to federal protection, several states have also passed their own laws to protect those with disabilities. For information on your specific state, Vote.org has a helpful list.

If anyone tries to stop or interfere with your voting, call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-687-8683. You can read more about Election Protection here.

Preparing a Communication Device for Voting

If you use a Lingraphica communication device, you can make a few key customizations to help you at the polls. Here are a few prompts you might consider adding.