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Here’s What to Know About Voting if You Have a Disability
Resources exist for those with low vision, mobility concerns, hearing challenges and more
9-minute read
Patrisha Gillette walks over to the ramp at Riverside Community Center in Riverside, Missouri on September 18, 2026.
Arin Yoon
Key takeaways
- Federal law protects the right of all voters to receive accommodations and cast a private, independent ballot.
- Voting accessibility measures such as mail-in voting, curbside voting and electronic ballots vary by state, making it important to check local rules early.
- If barriers arise at the polls, voters can seek assistance and report problems to ensure their vote is counted.
When Patrisha Gillette pulled up to the Riverside Community Center to vote in Missouri’s primary earlier this year, she laughed out loud.
“Curbside voting available,” read the sign perched outside the building. “Request within.”
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Due to a disability that makes walking difficult, the 46-year-old arrived hoping to vote from her car — only to find no phone number to call and no poll workers outside to help.
“As a single person, if I was going to ‘inquire within,’ I might as well just go in and vote,” she says.
Despite walking with a cane and living with chronic pain, Gillette rarely misses an election and enjoys voting in person.
“I love the whole atmosphere of going in and voting at my poll with my fellow citizens,” she says. “But it was a lot more frustrating this year and painful.”
Patrisha Gillette poses for a portrait at Riverside Community Center in Riverside, Missouri on September 18, 2026.
Arin Yoon
Her experience reflects a growing challenge as the population ages: Older adults are highly motivated to vote, but many of them have a disability or other limitations that can make doing so difficult.
More than 40 percent of adults 65 and older reported having a disability in 2026, according to the latest federal data. That’s the highest rate of any age group by a wide margin.
That’s also not the whole picture; Many older voters may not identify as having a disability but nonetheless appreciate having flexible options that make standing in poll lines, reading a ballot or signing their names easier.
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Susan Beals, 76, of Texas, says voting should be easy for everyone. A stroke left her paralyzed on her left side, and she says early voting, extended polling hours and the option to vote by mail help make the process more accessible.
“No eligible voter should be prevented from casting a ballot because of a disability, mobility limitation or other practical barrier,” says Lori Parham, state policy principal for AARP Government Affairs. “Accessible voting options help ensure every voice can be heard.”
While federal law guarantees the right to a private, independent ballot, states and counties administer elections differently. That means voting options can vary depending on where you live, says Michelle Bishop, manager for voter access and engagement at the nonprofit National Disability Rights Network. Barriers for disabled voters can perpetuate lower turnout, she added.
Older citizens with disabilities were less likely to vote than people without disabilities by 10 to nearly 12 percentage points in presidential election years, according to MIT’s Election Lab.
Still, a strong sense of civic duty drives many older voters to the polls, whether or not they have a disability.
Since 2002, Americans 65 and older have consistently voted at higher rates than younger age groups. This year especially, this decisive bloc is directly affected by several issues, such as affordability, Social Security and health care costs.
AARP is backing efforts to expand voter access for older adults, including those who need additional support. In Utah, AARP helped protect mail-in voting for people with mobility challenges, while in Wyoming, we supported a law allowing nursing home and assisted living residents to renew voter registration by mail.
What does the law say about disability voting rights?
There are a number of federal laws that create a national baseline for voter accessibility.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically Title II, requires federal, state and local governments to provide everyone with a full and equal opportunity to vote. That applies to voter registration, reasonable accommodations for casting a ballot, and access to assistance and election websites.
- The Voting Rights Act permits any voter needing assistance to appoint an individual to accompany them into the polls. This can be anyone you choose except an employer or union representative.
- The Help America Vote Act requires precincts to have at least one accessible voting machine that may offer larger print or audio for those who have visual or hearing challenges.
- The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act allows any voter who is physically disabled or over the age of 70 to request to move to the front of the line while waiting to vote in a federal election.
“The fact that you may have trouble getting into a polling place, or holding a pencil or reading that really small font shouldn’t be what determines whether your voice is heard,” says Nina Kohn, a professor at Syracuse University College of Law specializing in elder law.
Some states have expanded on these standards by adopting laws that outline additional protections, while others haven’t done as much to go beyond federal baselines, says Bishop.
For example, those with a disability can vote absentee or by mail, but only half of states allow voters with disabilities to receive a ballot electronically if they have difficulty reading printed materials, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a coalition of state legislators and staffers.
Just over half of states (27) allow curbside voting, and only six have laws that support home-based assistance with voting, including delivering a ballot to a person’s residence if they cannot physically go to a polling location.
In some states, voters with a disability may sign their ballot with a signature stamp if doing so with a pen is difficult.
Do I have to prove I’m disabled to request an accommodation?
No. If you need help exercising your right to vote, you can request help. Poll workers should be trained on what assistance is available.
“They shouldn’t be asking you why you need it,” says Bishop. “It’s there because it has features that make voting work for everyone, whether or not you actually identify as a person with a disability.”
If you’re bringing someone to assist you, let a volunteer know. In some cases, you may be asked to affirm you have a disability or certify that your assistant is not influencing your vote, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. If you’d prefer to have a poll worker help you in the voting booth, elections officials should provide one person from each political party to assist.
In nursing homes, the gold standard should be a bipartisan team of election officials visiting residents to collect ballots, says Kohn, but voting by mail is often the next best option. Either way, these facilities have an obligation to ensure residents can cast their vote, she added. Supervised absentee voting for long-term care facilities is available in 22 states and Guam.
What about getting help with registration?
Your county is legally required to help if you need assistance with voter registration, says Claire Stanley, director of advocacy and governmental affairs for the American Council of the Blind. Voter registration opportunities are also available at state disability offices under the National Voter Registration Act. Motor vehicle offices and, of course, election offices will also provide in-person services. Most states also allow you to register to vote or renew online; some let you do this through the mail.
Can I ask my polling place in advance whether they can accommodate me?
Yes, planning ahead can ease worries and make your trip to the polls smoother. It can also help poll workers anticipate your needs and prepare for your arrival, experts say.
Contact your state or local election office before Election Day to confirm your polling location or ask about any specific needs, like a wheelchair-accessible booth.
Find your state’s election office contact information by hovering over the map below:
Can I vote by mail instead of going in person?
Yes, despite recent legal challenges to the popular practice of mail-in voting, it is still an option for the 2026 midterms. Just make sure you review your state’s specific rules on mail-in ballots, as not all states automatically mail them, and some may require a reason for requesting one.
The best advice, Bishops says, is to request and return your ballot early so you have plenty of time to review the instructions and submit your vote on time.
What if I get turned away, or find my polling place isn’t accessible to me?
Experts say it’s rare for voters to be denied their ballot, but voters may simply give up when faced with confusing procedures, inaccessible polling places or transportation challenges that are too cumbersome to overcome. Anyone who is turned away or encounters hurdles should stand their ground and know how to report issues.
Calling your local election office is often the quickest, most direct way to resolve issues on the spot.Another resource is the Election Protection hotline, operated by trained volunteers and available nationwide. You can call or text and get help with voting-related questions in English at 1-866-687-8683. Visit the website for additional phone numbers serving other languages.
That’s what Gillette did in 2024 when she noticed the same problem she saw this year: Curbside voting still required her to go inside.
She sent in photos of her own polling place, and then, for good measure, visited several nearby locations and documented similar problems: signs that weren’t visible from handicapped parking and curbside voting instructions that required voters to go inside first. She reported all of this to the hotline.
“It’s important not just to me, but I also think about everybody else and want the same opportunities for every citizen to vote, regardless of their physical ability to get into a polling site,” she says.
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