Training Poll Workers for Accessible Voting: Supporting voters with disabilities at the polling place

Published

November 20, 2023

Author(s)

Sarah Blahovec, Whitney Quesenbery, Sharon J. Laskowski

Abstract

Accessible voting systems are a key feature in polling places that enable voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires that each polling place have a voting system that is "accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired," and that it must provide "the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters." These systems must be available for all voters, but many voters who are blind or have low vision, voters with mobility disabilities or who lack manual dexterity, and voters with cognitive disabilities need accessible voting systems to vote privately and independently. This report and sample training slide presentation (available for download and modification at https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.VTS.100-2sup1) are intended to assist election officials as they develop their poll worker training to support voters with disabilities at the polling place. This work is in response to the inconsistency of available training materials for poll workers on how to set up accessible voting systems and support voters in using them. In addition to ensuring that poll workers know the legal rules for disability voting rights in the polling place, it includes guidance for helping voters while preserving their independence and privacy.

Citation

Voting Technology Series - NIST VTS 100-2

Report Number

NIST VTS 100-2

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.VTS.100-2

Local Download

Keywords

Accessibility, accessible voting systems, elections, poll workers, poll worker training, voter privacy, voter independence, voters, voting.

Citation

Blahovec, S. , Quesenbery, W. and Laskowski, S. (2023), Training Poll Workers for Accessible Voting: Supporting voters with disabilities at the polling place, Voting Technology Series, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.VTS.100-2, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956443 (Accessed January 15, 2025)