【Super Virgin (2012)】

Americans are Super Virgin (2012)busy getting ready to go to the polls on November 6. But as you read up on the candidates and ballot measures and plan your voting day, know that there are millions who may not even get the opportunity to cast a ballot in the upcoming midterm elections — or the elections that will follow — because they have a disability.

Research shows that people with disabilities face numerous barriers to voting. For instance, they report finding it difficult to vote at a polling place at much higher rates than voters without disabilities. One research paper found that 30 percent of voters with disabilities polled in a nationally representative survey said it was difficult to vote at a polling place in 2012. Only 8 percent of voters without disabilities said the same.

While common barriers to voting can't be removed from every polling place in a matter of days, there are steps that we all can take to help ensure that the 35 million Americans who have a disability and are eligible to vote are able to successfully cast their ballots.

"One of the things we can do by the election is to raise awareness about the ways the disability community has been disenfranchised," says Miriam Heyman, senior program officer at the Ruderman Family Foundation, an advocacy organization that focuses on disability inclusion.

SEE ALSO: 6 things Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco wants you to know about sign language

Heyman identified four critical barriers the disabled community faces, suggesting ways to help minimize or eliminate them:

1) The polling site is inaccessible.

Many polling places are located in churches or other religious organizations, which are exempt from the American with Disabilities Act. That federal legislation, passed decades ago, requires that places of public accommodation, commercial buildings, and state and local government facilities be accessible to people with disabilities. Some might take for granted that every polling site is accessible, but that's not always the case.

"A big sign sends a signal to all voters."

While entrances can't be redesigned before the midterms, Heyman says poll workers can make sure any accessible ramps or entrances aren't physically blocked or locked. Moreover, they can place visible signage outside of a polling place indicating that it is accessible.

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"A big sign sends a signal to all voters that thefacility is at least making an effort," says Heyman.

2) The accessible machine isn't working, or poll workers don't know how to operate it.

Polling sites are required by federal law to have at least one accessible voting machine for people with disabilities, including those who are blind or visually impaired. The machine has to guarantee the same access, privacy, and independence that other voters expect when they cast a ballot. Despite the federal law, accessible machines sometimes don't work, are located in difficult-to-reach places, or aren't private. Even if they are available for use, poll workers may not have received training on how to operate them.

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Heyman says election officials can remedy those problems in advance by ensuring that accessible machines function properly, are located in appropriate spots, and that poll workers are adequately trained to use them.

3) Poll workers aren't trained to interact with voters with disabilities.

Poll workers often don't understand why accessibility is important, or the various laws that protect the right to vote for people with disabilities. While they might see it as their duty or responsibility to complete someone's ballot, a voter with a disability can ask for assistance but is guaranteed the right to vote independently.

While some poll workers may have been poorly trained, others may hold negative stereotypes or beliefs about people with disabilities. Heyman says encountering stigma at a polling site is a key barrier for voters with disabilities. People with a developmental or psychiatric disability, in particular, report being discriminated against at polling sites.

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Hiring people with disabilities to work at polling sites would help reduce stigma and bias, says Heyman. In the meantime, elections officials and poll workers can review federal laws and reflect on their attitudes about disability.

4) It's hard or impossible to reach the polling site.

The act of voting at a polling site requires an accessible means of transportation — and a site that provides parking or, in some circumstances, curbside voting. Though public transportation is required to be accessible by federal law, Heyman says it's often difficult to access. Polling sites themselves may lack dedicated parking for people with disabilities, though elections officials can create temporary designated spots by using portable signs and cones.

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Campaigns that help voters get to the polls should make provisions for people with disabilities, or at least make clear that transportation can be made accessible depending on the request. If volunteers are independently providing rides to their neighbors, they should be sure to think about accessibility needs.

While these barriers to voting can't be eliminated overnight, Heyman says even making incremental progress toward that goal is important. Any voter can contact their local elections officials or county registrar of voters' office to ask about accessibility, emphasizing that it's important to them, regardless of whether they have a disability. Heyman says it's also critical that people who encounter problems voting file a complaint detailing the problem. For immediate assistance, people can call 866-OUR-VOTE, a hotline and website dedicated to helping people vote and ensuring their vote counts.

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"The disability community is one we could all be a part of — and we will all join the disability community at some point," says Heyman. "This is a problem for all of us who care about democracy, civil rights, and social justice."

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