Accessible Voting Act 2024: Enhancing Electoral Access for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
This Act aims to increase voting accessibility for older individuals, individuals with disabilities, Native Americans, and those with limited English proficiency. It introduces new regulations for websites, absentee, and in-person voting to ensure every citizen can cast their ballot more easily. The changes are designed to provide equal opportunities for participation in federal elections.
Key points
Establishment of an Election Assistance Commission Office of Accessibility and a National Resource Center on Accessible Voting to support states and local governments in improving election accessibility.
Requirement for all state election websites to be fully accessible and provide clear information for voters and election officials, including polling place accessibility and voting procedures.
Facilitation of absentee voting: any eligible voter can request an absentee ballot without excuse, and electronically submit voter registration and absentee ballot applications.
Enhanced protections for in-person voting, including the requirement for all polling places and ballot drop boxes to be accessible, and consideration of alternative voting options like curbside voting or mobile polling sites.
Protection of voting rights for individuals under guardianship: a state cannot determine an individual lacks voting capacity unless a court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the individual cannot communicate a desire to participate in the voting process, even with accommodations.
Funding for states: payments are authorized for states to implement accessibility requirements, with at least 10% of funds allocated to local governments for developing or upgrading accessible election websites.
Expansion of a grant program to ensure voting access for individuals with disabilities and older individuals, including the study and development of secure and accessible remote voting systems.
Expired
Citizen Poll