First-Person: My Experience as a Voter with a Disability

Voting for many people is something that is fairly simple and takes relatively little time. For some however, this can take a considerable amount of time and effort. I have been a registered voter for 11 years. I have voted in every major election in that time. In the past I have utilized the ability to vote absentee, due to my polling place being unreachable due to lack of transportation.

Recently however, my polling place has changed to my very own apartment building. I have only been able to vote in two elections here so far, but I had voted at my former polling place a few times before, the actual voting for me has not been the difficult part. Some people with disabilities need to use electronic voting machines; I however do not need such assistance.

I have cerebral palsy and use a wheelchair. Among the problems I have experienced when voting at a polling place, a main one has been lack of privacy and accessible voting booths. Another issue has always been lack of awareness on the part of some poll workers. The nice people I encounter while trying to vote, unwittingly and I'm sure with all the good intentions in world seem to assume that I have never voted or don't know how to fill in a ballot. All of the ballots used in my state of Michigan since I have been eligible to vote have been very simple and self- explanatory.

Despite these facts, I have been hovered over by seemingly well-meaning poll workers trying to instruct me on how to fill in the ballot. In some cases they have even tried to read it to me. This can be a bit frustrating as Michigan ballots have always been the type where the voter completes an arrow pointing to the candidate of the voter's choice or a fill in the bubble type ballot. Obviously I can read and write, I do realize others have trouble with a ballot, but the assumption can lead to additional annoyances.

Although people mean well this can be very invasive to the privacy of myself or other voters with disabilities. This format of the ballots is similar to most standardized tests and familiar to me and many others.

Most recently, I voted in the Michigan Presidential Primary. I went down to the polls around 2pm that day. There was fortunately no line; I presented my identification and voter registration card. After being asked which ballot I wanted, it was given to me in a secrecy sleeve. I didn't need to use the electronic voting machine, but would have appreciated an accessible voting booth similar to those used by able-bodied voters. There wasn't much in the way of privacy for casting my vote. I had to place my vote at a table that had been cleared to the side of the room to make room for the voter booths for all of the other voters. This is the reality of this segment of my life and the life of many others in similar situations. I will be writing my elected officials to get them to help better this situation.

I would consider voting absentee; but it is really unnecessary to do such a thing. I also feel it is my responsibility to turn up at the polls to vote just like everyone else. If you are a poll worker, thank you. Next time a person with a disability enters your precinct, please let them ask you for help.