NJ offers accessible voting options for people with disabilities in Tuesday's primary

Gene Myers, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read

Ahead of New Jersey's primary election Tuesday Secretary of State Tahesha Way said the state has taken steps to ensure access for voters with disabilities. “Every voter should be able to cast their ballot privately and securely," Way said in a statement last week outlining the procedures. "We appreciate the opportunity to extend this voting option to New Jersey’s disabled voters."

Options at polling stations

Voters with accessibility needs can be accommodated at local polling sites where equipment awaits to help them view a ballot on a screen or hear an audio version that will help them mark and cast the ballot.

Electronic ballots

Patti Chang, who is blind, uses headphones and audio along with an electronic controller outfitted with braille to vote in the Chicago mayoral runoff election at the Roden Branch of the Chicago Public Library Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Chicago.
Patti Chang, who is blind, uses headphones and audio along with an electronic controller outfitted with braille to vote in the Chicago mayoral runoff election at the Roden Branch of the Chicago Public Library Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Chicago.

Voters who cannot vote using a paper ballot without assistance can reach out to their county clerk who will work with the group Democracy Live to get them an electronic ballot. The clerk’s office will mail the voter the postage-paid ballot return envelope, and a certificate envelope for sealing the ballot.

The voter will receive an email with a link to a personalized ballot. From the link provided, the voter can mark the ballot using their own screen readers and screen magnifiers.

How to submit accessible ballots

  • When done, the voter prints the ballot, and the completed Certificate of Accessible Ballot Voter form. The completed ballot should be sealed in the certificate envelope.

  • If the voter receives assistance, the person providing such assistance must fill out the assistor portion on the certificate envelope.

  • The voter should then seal the completed Certificate of Accessible Ballot Voter and the sealed certificate envelope containing the completed ballot in the postage-paid ballot return envelope provided.

If you need assistance with a signature

  • A mail-in ballot voter who is unable to sign or make their mark on the certificate attached to the inner envelope can request a Certificate of Assistor Signing for a Voter with a Disability from their clerk’s office.

  • The assisting person will complete the requested assistor certificate and the assistor portion of the certificate attached to the inner envelope and sign the voter’s name on the inner envelope certificate.

  • The requested assistor certificate should be attached to the certificate on the inner envelope.

June 6 deadline to postmark

Once this process is completed, the ballot can be returned in the same manner as any other mail-in ballot. Ballots need to be postmarked by June 6.

Voter protection hotline

If voters need assistance or have any questions, their local, county, and state election officials are available to help. Voters can reach out to the voter information/protection hotline at 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658- 6837). For more information on voting, visit Vote.NJ.Gov.

Gene Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: myers@northjersey.com

Twitter: @myersgene

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ primary election 2023: Voting options for people with disabilities