FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2024
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Marissa L. Band, Esq.
Project Director, CLASI Disabilities Law Program
302-476-8506 / mband@declasi.org
What Delaware Voters with Disabilities Should Know Before Election Day 2024
The Arc of Delaware, the Disabilities Law Program of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI), and the League of Women Voters of Sussex County, Delaware, wish to share resources that are available to help eligible Delawareans with disabilities prepare for the November 5, 2024 General Election and exercise their fundamental right to vote.
Over 20% of adults in Delaware have a disability, and studies show that they are less likely to cast a ballot due to multiple barriers, including misinformation about the voting process. Our organizations are working together to ensure that Delawareans with disabilities can make their voices heard and fully participate in the voting process.
Resources and accommodations are available at all steps of the voting process to help ensure that voting is accessible for all Delawareans with disabilities.
Early Voting
Early Voting is an option for all registered voters. The Early Voting period began on October 25, and runs through November 3, 2024. You can vote at any designated Early Voting site in the county where you live. For a list of the Early Voting sites and hours of operation in your county, visit: https://elections.delaware.gov/elections/votinglocations.shtml
All of the accommodations listed below for voting in-person on Election Day are also available for Early Voting.
Accommodations When Voting Absentee
Voters can request an absentee ballot by mail, by phone, or via the Department of Elections online portal at: https://ivote.de.gov/ (have your state ID handy for the portal). An absentee ballot can be requested up to three months before Election Day. Only certain voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot (the absentee ballot application has a list of acceptable reasons for voting absentee).
Mailed requests for absentee ballots must be received (not postmarked) by your county elections office by Friday, November 1. (For elections office contact information, visit: https://elections.delaware.gov/locations.shtml) The Department of Elections can also issue absentee ballots in-person at the county elections office in the voter’s county of residence up to 12:00 noon on Monday, November 4.
The Department of Elections can also issue absentee ballots electronically (by fax or email) to voters who requested the electronic delivery option, and who are voting absentee due to illness, disability, or because they are overseas, up to 12:00 noon on Monday, November 4.
An absentee ballot can be returned by mail or by dropping it off at the Department of Elections office in the county where you live. Absentee ballots must be in the possession of your county elections office by 8:00 p.m. on November 5 in order to be counted. So, consider dropping off your absentee ballot if you do not think it will get to the Department of Elections in time via mail.
Additionally, voters with disabilities who request electronic delivery of their absentee ballot can fill out their ballot electronically using their own technology and can submit their absentee ballot by email. Alternatively, an absentee ballot received electronically can be printed out, completed, and mailed back in or dropped off in person. Be sure to indicate whether you desire to have electronic delivery of your absentee ballot on your absentee application form, available for download here: https://elections.delaware.gov/voter/absentee/
You can vote absentee in-person at your county elections office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on business days, or between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon on November 4, the day before the election. You must bring ID. You can vote in-person even if you requested an absentee ballot but did not return it. In this case, it is recommended to bring your ID.
Your county elections office must receive your absentee ballot by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day (November 5) for it to be counted. The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on November. 5. If you are in line by 8:00 p.m., you can vote.
For a helpful video reviewing the absentee voting process, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbLQvL2T7k
Accommodations When Voting in Person on Election Day
When voting in person on Election Day, a number of accommodations are available for people with disabilities. First, each polling place should be physically accessible, with accessible parking and an accessible route to the voting machines. Voters can find their polling place location on the Department of Elections website. It is best to check this in advance here: https://gis.elections.delaware.gov/
Each polling place is required to have at least one accessible voting machine. In Delaware, the ExpressVote XL machine has a number of built-in accessibility features. Additionally, at least one machine will have the Universal Voting Console (UVC) to assist voters who would like to hear the ballot read to them and vote via the UVC.
The Department of Elections has a video explaining these accessibility features that voters might find helpful to watch in advance, and poll workers have been trained on how to help voters access these features. Learn more and watch the video here: https://www.essvote.com/accessible-expressvote-xl/
When arriving at their polling place, voters with disabilities should tell poll workers that they want to use the accessible voting machine. Voters also have the option to take a person of their choice into the voting area to assist them with voting, as long as the person is not their employer or union representative. In Delaware, having a guardianship order is not disqualifying for voting, unless the court order clearly says so.
If You Need Help
If any voters with disabilities encounter any difficulty accessing their polling place or voting in the manner they choose, there is help available on Election Day.
CLASI’s Disabilities Law Program
Individuals with disabilities who encounter issues at their polling places or have questions can contact:
Joann Kingsley, Voting Rights Advocate
Disabilities Law Program, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI)
Phone: 800-292-7980 or 302-856-2027
Email: jkingsley@declasi.org
ASL Voter Hotline by the National Association of the Deaf
Phone: 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683)
Website: https://www.nad.org/voter-information/
Election Protection Hotline
Trained, non-partisan election protection volunteers are available to help you with a variety of questions, including about accessibility and requirements to vote. Voters can contact them as follows:
Phone: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (English)
Text: 1-866-687-8683
Chat: 866ourvote.org
Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA
Asian Languages: 1-888-API-VOTE
Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US
Delaware Voting Rights Coalition
The Coalition has published a comprehensive voter guide in English and Spanish called “How to Vote in Delaware’s General Election,” which includes information about accessibility.
Website: https://www.aclu-de.org/en/voter-guide2024
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About The Arc of Delaware:
The Arc of Delaware is an affiliated chapter of the Arc of the United States, the largest national community-based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc advocates for policies, services, and funding to promote and protect the civil rights of Delawareans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more, please visit: https://thearcofdelaware.org/
About Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. and the Disabilities Law Program:
Founded in 1946, the mission of Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) is to combat injustice through creative and persistent civil (non-criminal) legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable and underserved Delawareans. CLASI provides free legal representation to people with disabilities, people aged 60 or over, people with low incomes, and victims of crime and discrimination to help its clients obtain shelter, government benefits, educational services, medical services, orders of protection from abuse, legal immigration status, and other civil legal remedies. CLASI has offices in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown, Delaware. To learn more, please visit: https://www.declasi.org/
CLASI’s Disabilities Law Program (DLP) provides free legal representation to children and adults with physical and mental disabilities to protect them from abuse and neglect and to advocate for their legal rights. The DLP is designated by the Governor as Delaware’s Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities. The Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) project within the DLP works to ensure full and effective participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities. To learn more about the DLP and PAVA program, please visit: https://www.declasi.org/disabilities-law-program/
About The League of Women Voters of Sussex County, Delaware
The League of Women Voters of Sussex County, Delaware (LWVSCDE) is a non-partisan educational organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. To learn more, please visit: https://my.lwv.org/delaware/sussex-county-delaware
