Your Rights as a Voterwith a Disability

A Self-Help PublicationofIntroduction
As a member of a democratic society, you not only
have the right to vote; you have the responsibility tovote!
No vote is ever wasted.
Every Vote Counts!

Disability voting rights laws ensure that people withdisabilities have access to voter education,
registration and the polling place, as well as use ofthe voting machine. The purpose of all theserequirements is to create EQUAL OPPORTUNITY in
every aspect of the voting process.
This booklet will introduce you to both basic votinginformation and some of the most significant lawsthat protect the voting rights of people withdisabilities.
The back cover of the booklet provides contact
information for DRCT. Call us if you have anyquestions or if you think your rights as a voter with adisability have been violated.
Advocacy Tip
Become a Poll Worker - One way to become an effective
voting rights advocate is to become a poll worker. Call
Disability Rights Connecticut or your local Registrar of Voters
Office for information.
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The Connecticut Voter’s Bill of Rights
The Connecticut Voter’s Bill of Rights summarizes
some of the basic voter rights laws enacted in theState of Connecticut. Most of it applies to people
with and without disabilities. It is important that allvoters become familiar with these rights.
The Connecticut Voter’s Bill of Rights assures thatall voters have a right to: Inspect a sample ballot before voting; Receive instructions concerning how to operate
voting equipment on sample voting equipment
before voting; Cast a ballot if you are in line when the polls areclosing; Ask for and receive assistance in voting, including
assistance in languages other than English whererequired by federal or state law;
 Vote free from coercion or intimidation by election
officials or any other person;
 Cast a ballot using voting equipment that
accurately counts all votes;
 Vote by provisional ballot if you are registered tovote and your name is not on the voter list; * Be informed of the process for restoring your rightto vote if you were incarcerated for a conviction;and Vote independently and in privacy at a pollingplace, regardless of physical disability.

* Applies only to elections when there are candidates forfederal office on the ballot. (Connecticut General Statutes §9236b)---------------~3~

Help America Vote Act
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed in 2002,
includes sections on disability access. This importantfederal law, which applies to the whole country,
requires that states: Provide accessible voting machines; Educate Registrars of Voters and poll workers
on the voting rights of people with disabilities;
 Provide accessible polling places; Conduct outreach to people with disabilities
on their voting rights.

Common Q&As for Voters withDisabilities
Voter Registration
What are the qualifications for registering to votein Connecticut?
To register to vote in Connecticut, you must: Be a U.S. citizen;
 Be 18 years old on or by Election Day;
 Be a resident of a Connecticut town.
Convicted felons do not permanently lose their rightto vote in Connecticut. If you are a convicted felon,
your right to vote is restored when you are no longer
incarcerated and not on parole. You also must have
paid all fines in conjunction with the conviction.
(Connecticut General Statutes §9-46a). Note: You
can vote while you are on probation.
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Where may I obtain a voter registration form?
Connecticut makes it easy to register to vote. Bylaw, voter registration forms are required to beavailable at many public places. (ConnecticutGeneral Statutes §9-19h) You may also contact yourlocal Registrars of Voters to obtain a registration
form in person or by mail. The eligibility statementthat is part of the registration process must be madeavailable, upon request, in Braille, large print oraudio to people with visual disabilities.
You may also acquire a registration form at any ofthe below locations. At some of these sites, you mayalso submit your completed form.
 Municipal Town Clerk Offices CT Department of Social Services (all offices) CT Department of Public Health CT Department of Motor Vehicles
 CT Department of Developmental Services
 CT Department of Rehabilitation Services
 Disability Rights Connecticut
 Public Libraries
 Colleges and Universities
 All Armed Forces Recruitment Offices
 Many nonprofit community organizations
 On the website of the Secretary of the State(www.ct.gov/sots)
Advocacy Tip
Submit the Registration Form Yourself - Even if you acquire aform at one of the above locations, it is often advisable to submit
it yourself at your local Registrars of Voters Office. You can mailit to the Registrars or deliver it in person.

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Advocacy Tip
Be aware of all due dates for registering to vote or acquiring anabsentee ballot. Call your local Registrars of Voters Office orcontact DRCT.

May I register to vote online?
Yes. Online registration enables prospective votersto complete the entire registration process on thecomputer. The site is maintained by the Secretary ofthe State. The website address is:https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR
The site explains the process and the identification
requirements. You will note that 2 buttons at thebottom read: I do have a valid DMV IDand I do not have a valid DMV ID.
If you click on the first button “I do have a valid DMVID”, you will be led through the entire online
registration process.
If you click on the second button “I do not have avalid DMV ID”, you will be led through the process offilling out a registration form, which you will thenneed to print out and deliver, by hand or standard
mail, to your local Registrars’ Office. (ConnecticutGeneral Statutes §9-19K)
Advocacy Tip
When registering online, you will need to provide the number on
your license or non-driver ID, so have it ready when you register.

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Voting
Is it possible to register to vote on Election Day?
Yes. Election Day Registration (EDR) enables
people to both register and vote on the day of ageneral election. The EDR site must be accessible
to people with disabilities and assistance must beavailable for those who need help filling out theballot. The EDR site is not located at a polling place.
Contact your local Registrar of Voters office to findout where the EDR site can be found.
Like at a standard polling place, the hours are 6:00
AM – 8:00 PM. Unlike at a regular polling place,
though, voters will not be allowed to vote if they arestill in line at 8:00 PM. The site will close at that time
whether or not there are people waiting.
Keep in mind that ID requirements for EDR are more
stringent than those required of voters when they
appear to vote at a standard polling place.
Acceptable documents include, but are not limitedto:Birth certificate;
Driver’s license;
Non-driver photo ID (issued by Department ofMotor Vehicles);Social Security card.

If the ID presented does not include residentialaddress, the applicant must present an additional
document that provides proof of residence.

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Examples of such documents include, but are notlimited to:Motor vehicle learner’s permit;
Utility bill due no longer than 30 days after theelection;
Paycheck;
Naturalization papers. (Connecticut General
Statutes §9-19j)

Do I have to show an ID when I go to the polls?
Yes. The following is simplified information about ID
requirements in Connecticut.
Voters who are voting for the first time in a primary
or election with federal candidates on the ballot must
present:


A current and valid photo ID that shows nameand address
ORA current utility bill, bank statement,government check, paycheck or government
document that shows name and address.

All other voters must present:
 A Social Security card Any pre-printed form of identification thatshowso Name and address, oro Name and signature, oro Name and photograph.
In the absence of acceptable ID, a voter may cast aprovisional ballot. These ballots are only available
when candidates for federal office are in a race.
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Once the identity of the voter has been confirmed,
the ballots are analyzed and counted.
Are all polling places required to be accessible?
Yes. Polling places are required to provide abarrier-free route through all areas relevant tocasting a vote. This includes pathways, doorways
and corridors. Every polling place is also required toprovide at least two accessible parking spaces if
there is an existing parking lot. In unusual cases, apolling place may be granted an accessibility waiverfrom the State of Connecticut if an access problem
cannot be solved before an election. Such waivers
are considered temporary and generally last throughonly one election cycle. (Connecticut General
Statutes §9-168d and §9-168e).
May I move to the front of the line on Election
Day if my disability requires it?
Yes. Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), moving to the front of the line whennecessary would be a reasonable policy
modification. If your disability prevents you fromstaying in line, let the election officials know and ask
to be moved to the front of the line.
If you choose to stay in line, however, the election
officials cannot make you move to the front of theline just because you have a disability.

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May I use the voting system of my choice?
Yes. Connecticut offers twomethods of voting at the pollingplace. One way is via the manual
ballot; the other method, new in2016, is via a tablet with optional
voice output and keypad for voters who are unable
to read the tablet. Anyone, with or without adisability, may vote by either method – it’s up to you!
Advocacy Tip
Remember, you have the right to vote by the method youchoose. Don’t let anyone talk you into using one voting systemor the other!

How does the manual ballot system work?
Each voter is given a paper ballot with the names ofcandidates (and, sometimes, referendum questions),
along with a marker for filling in the circles next toyour choices. Once you complete the ballot, youdeposit it into the optical scan tabulator, whichcounts the votes.
How do I use the tablet ballot marking system?
The tablet system is a ballot-marking device that
replaces the old phone/fax technology. The newtechnology includes a tablet and a keypad with headphones. You may vote using the touch screen on
the tablet, or by using the connected audio systemon the keypad. The audio system, which includes
head phones, works by a series of cues requiring---------------~ 10 ~you to push different buttons on the key pad to makeyour choices. Both the touchscreen and the audio
provide you with the opportunity to review and revise
your choices. After you are done voting (by either
touchscreen or key pad), a printer marks a paper
ballot to reflect your choices. The voter then feeds
the ballot through the same tabulator that counts theballots that weremanuallycompleted.
The audio
component may
be preferable forpeople with visualdisabilities; people
who prefer audio
cues, including
individuals who
have difficulty
reading; andpeople withlearning
disabilities.

Does the ballot marking system device
remember how I voted?
No. Before printing your paper ballot, review thatyour choices are correct. If you make a mistake, you
can ask the moderator to spoil your ballot. You will
have to go through the process and make yourchoices again because the information is erased
from the Interactive Voting System.
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Is there a way to practice using the audio
technology from home before Election Day?
The audio component of the ballot marking system
is available for practice on the manufacturer’s
website. The audio component testing number is888-661-6366. The test uses a mock Famous
Names ballot.
May I vote from home using the tablet system?
No. The tablet system is only available at yourpolling place.
Must the tablet marking device be available foruse during every election?
Yes. The tablet marking device must be available
for use during every election and at the Election Day
registration location.
Advocacy Tip
Learn about the voting technology before Election Day.
Spread your knowledge to other people with disabilities sothey know the options before showing up at the polls.

May I receive help in casting my vote?
Yes. If a voter requires assistance to vote by reasonof disability or inability to write on or read the ballot,
help may be provided by a person of the voter’s
choice, except: 1) the voter’s employer; 2) an agentof the employer; 3) an officer or agent of the voter’sunion; or 4) a candidate on the ballot, unless thatcandidate is a member of the voter’s immediatefamily. (Connecticut General Statutes §9-264)---------------~ 12 ~

Is curbside voting available in Connecticut?
Yes. Voters who are unable, for reason of disability
or illness, to enter a polling place on the day of anelection may arrange to vote fromtheir car. It is advised that sucharrangements be made before arrivalwith the Registrars of Voters so that
personnel are available to come out
when the voter arrives. Two
designated polling officials will bring the ballot and,upon completion, return the ballot to the pollingplace and deposit it in the optical scanner. Thisservice is available during elections and referenda.
(Connecticut General Statutes §9-261 [b])Can they make me use curbside voting if I have adisability?
No. The availability of curbside voting is not a
substitute for an accessible polling place. If a voter
experiences an illness or injury close to Election Day
that prevents him/her from entering a polling place,curbside voting may be an option; this should be arare occurrence.
How do I obtain an absentee ballot?
You may request an application for an absentee ballotfrom the municipal clerk in the town where you vote.

---------------~ 13 ~Does Connecticut have apermanent absentee ballot
for voters with permanent
disabilities?
Yes. Connecticut now offersa permanent absentee ballot
for people with disabilities.
After the initial application
has been accepted, voterswill be mailed annual
renewal forms. These forms only ask for
confirmation of the voter’s address. If the holder of apermanent absentee ballot does not reply, he or she
will lose permanent absentee status, but will not beremoved from the list of registered voters.
May I vote by absentee ballot if I am in someother kind of facility, like a nursing home or ahospital?
Yes. If twenty or more registered voters are in sucha facility, then the office of the Registrars of Votersof the town in which the facility is located mustsupervise the picking up of the absentee ballots andthe delivery of them to the Clerk in the voters’ home
districts, as well as supervise the completion of theballots and their submission. (Connecticut GeneralStatutes §9-159r)
May I vote if I have a guardian or a conservator?
Yes. No one under guardianship or conservatorshipmay be denied the right to vote unless a probate
court issues a specific order prohibiting this right.
(Connecticut General Statutes §9-159s)---------------~ 14 ~

May I vote if I am living in a
psychiatric institution?
Yes. Any person hospitalized ina facility for people withpsychiatric disabilities has theright to vote unless a probate
court issues a specific orderprohibiting this right.
(Connecticut General Statutes §17a-541)
Can my right to vote be challenged at the polls?
Yes, but only under limited circumstances. Pollworkers may only challenge a person’s right to votebased on questions related to identity, valid
disenfranchisement (legal loss of voting rights) orresidency. Poll workers may not question a person’s
right to vote based on their perception of a voter’s
lack of competence or ability. (Connecticut GeneralStatutes §9-232).
Is there a way for me to vote if I experience ahealth crisis shortly before an election, primaryor referendum?
Yes. Emergency absentee ballots are available topeople who experience a health crisis within six
days of an election. Request for an emergency
absentee ballot must be made to the Town Clerk’s
Office.

---------------~ 15 ~For more information on theRights of Voters with Disabilities
contact:

846 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114
Phone: (800) 842-7303 (toll-free in CT)(860) 297-4300 (voice)www.disrightsct.org---------------~ 16 ~