Voters with disabilities have expanding options in NJ: Here's how to find help
State officials want New Jersey residents with disabilities to know their options ahead of the 2023 general election.
“Disabled voters in New Jersey need to know that they have options to cast their ballot privately and securely. We appreciate the opportunity to make New Jersey elections inclusive and accessible,” Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way said in a statement.
To that end, there are multiple voting options. From providing accommodating equipment at polling places to facilitating electronic ballots via the Democracy Live website, New Jersey offers various ways to vote, said Way, who oversees the Division of Elections.
Paper ballots a problem? Assistive technology, such as screen readers and magnifiers, can help. Voters can mark ballots electronically. But completed ballots will still need to be printed, sealed in provided envelopes and returned via mail, postmarked by Election Day on Nov. 7.
Need help signing a ballot? Certificates of “Assistor Signing for a Voter with a Disability” are available upon request.
Disability advocates on the right to vote
Upper Saddle River resident Ryan Roy, 34, is an autism advocate who underscores the necessity of having every voter be “heard and represented.” The father of two, who is on the autism spectrum, stressed “the crucial nature of accessible voting, ensuring every ballot is cast, heard and represented, whether via mail-in or electronic ballot, particularly for those utilizing wheelchairs, walkers, or those with sensory impairments like vision loss or hearing difficulties.”
Arlene Romoff, a former president of the New Jersey chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, said progress has been made thanks to the pandemic, when vote-by-mail packets became commonplace.
“I just filled it out and took it to the drop-box in Hackensack — and I didn't have to deal with lines at a polling place, or trying to hear the poll workers behind the desks, and the voting booth attendant,” she said. “No hearing required to vote! So now, I'm still registered as voting by mail and I intend to keep it that way. It makes that much of a difference for me.”
Voter guide: Voting by mail has begun for the Nov. 7 election in NJ. What you need to know
While voting has been made easier through the years thanks to mail-in ballots, screen readers and polling places with accessible entrances and parking, there’s still at least one group that says it has been left behind: New Jersey residents with impaired vision are denied the right to vote privately and independently, said Mary Ciccone, director of policy at the advocacy group Disability Rights New Jersey.
A 2020 report by NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network found widespread issues with the audio devices mean to help voters with impaired vision. The devices, which connect to voting machines to read ballots to voters through headphones, are still often mishandled by poll workers due to a lack of proper training, Ciccone said.
Tips for voters with disabilities
Know your options: Familiarize yourself with the various available voting mechanisms, including in-person and electronic options.
Reach out: For personalized, accessible solutions like electronic ballots, contact your county clerk well in advance.
Plan ahead: Whether choosing to vote via mail or drop box or in person, note deadlines. Completed ballots need to be printed, sealed in provided envelopes and returned via mail, postmarked by Nov. 7.
There is support: Use hotlines, like 877-NJVOTER (877-658-6837), and websites, such as Vote.NJ.Gov, for information and additional assistance.
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: Voters with disabilities have expanding options in NJ
