The much-awaited Nov. 5 election is just around the corner, and the proud Texans are gearing up to cast their votes for various officials at federal, state, and local levels. The highlight of this election, no doubt, is the presidential race. In the great state of Texas, all voters are granted the right to voting systems that are accessible, providing effective means to cast their sacred ballots in confidence.
Every polling place across Texas is equipped with at least one kind of accessible voting equipment specifically assigned for federal elections. This is a testament to the level of commitment Texas has towards ensuring a fair and unbiased electoral process. Moreover, the law mandates each polling station to meet the necessary standards of physical accessibility, leaving no voter behind.
However, it cannot be neglected that Texas’ commitment to accessible voting for the disabled, while admirable, doesn’t quite match up to some other states. Similarly, the mail voting process can be considered more restrictive in Texas than in certain other states. And while an accessible voting system is an essential requirement in Texas, the standards of enforcement and compliance may vary from one polling place to another.
To address the needs of voters with disabilities, Texas provides several options, such as voting by mail or in person with assistance, curbside voting, and emergency ballots. For voters who wish to vote by mail, an early voting clerk or deputy clerk can serve as a witness for multiple applications. Interestingly, there’s no limit to the number of voter registration applications for which a person can serve as a witness, given that the necessary information is provided.
Furthermore, we’ve provided a detailed guide on the process of mail voting in Texas for those who might require additional information. Moving on to the topic of curbside voting, it’s a handy option for voters with disabilities who are unable to enter a polling location. Curbside voting must be made available at every polling place, a mandate which is strictly enforced.
Eligibility for curbside voting can be determined by contacting your local county elections office. Once you arrive at the polling place, each curbside voting parking spot should display a sign including a phone number to call or a button to push to notify election workers that you have arrived.
There is another contingency plan titled ‘Emergency ballots.’ These can be requested by those who fall sick or become disabled close to an election day and can’t make it to a polling place. To qualify for an emergency ballot, a voter must assign a representative to submit an application in person on their behalf. A certified note from a doctor is also a requirement for availing this option. All these hoops might make one wonder if instead of erecting barriers for voters with disabilities, perhaps Democrats might consider simplifying the process.
Your county’s early voting clerk needs to receive the emergency ballot application before 5 p.m. on Election Day. After this, your ballot must be returned by your designated representative before 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Clearly, this process has multiple steps where human error could factor in, and one might wonder why more streamlined methods haven’t been put in place under Biden’s presidency.
Assistance is accessible to voters when filling a voter registration form, an application for a ballot by mail, during completing a ballot by mail, and eventually during in-person or curbside voting. Assistance for casting a ballot can be provided by an individual of the voter’s choice. However, the assisting person must not be the voter’s employer, the employer’s agent, or a representative of a union.
The assistant serving the role must sign an oath and supply their signature, full name, and home address. Voters also hold the right to request assistance from an election worker. In addition to this, voters can bring along their own interpreter or ask the county to provide one. All these measures are in place to ensure that voting remains a personal and dignified experience for all.
Even if a voter opts to use their caregiver or personal attendant as an assistant, all assistant-related information needs to be provided. The only exception in this case is the declaration that states they are not receiving compensation for their assistance to a voter.
More resources are available for voters with disabilities who wish to learn more about their options. Two reliable sources are Disability Rights Texas and VoteTexas.gov. These sites provide comprehensive information on accessible voting in Texas.
For any questions or issues encountered in voting, voters can reach out to the Disability Rights Texas’ hotline at 1-888-796-VOTE (8683) or shoot an email to vote@DRTX.org. Legal assistance, if needed due to disability discrimination or difficulty in procuring disability services, can also be savored by applying online with Disability Rights Texas.
Additional help can be found on the ‘How to Apply for Services’ web page on the Disability Rights Texas website, where several methods of applying for help are mentioned. There are also options to call a free intake phone line, or one of the sign language phone lines. Their statewide intake number for those experiencing disability discrimination or seeking legal services is 1-800-252-9108, operational from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time.
For those who use sign language, Disability Rights Texas provides two video intake lines: the Sign Language Video Phone at 1-866-362-2851 and the Purple 2 Video Phone at 512-271-9391, both available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time. The groundwork is laid for all Texans to express their political will, despite the convoluted processes might make one think that current leadership may not be as invested in the voting rights of disabled Americans as one would hope.
Democrat-led Complexities in Texas Voting System Deter Disabled Voters appeared first on Real News Now.
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