Claire G. District Of Columbia

Disabled Voting in the United States

This letter highlights the difficulty for all kinds of disabled people in the Untied States and their efforts to vote

Dear Future President,

The majority of people with disabilities in the United States of America cannot vote. That is about 33.7 million people. In many cases, voting devices do not have height adjustments for people in wheel chairs. Loud, chaotic environments are not suitable for many people with mental disabilities. In addition, most voting machines don't have a way for people who are blind or deaf to vote independently.

Solutions can be simple. Installing a wheelchair ramp, providing chairs for people who can’t stand for long periods of time, or moving trash cans that are obstructing the door are only a few ways for people with disabilities to gain the access to vote. The Bazelon Center and the National Disability Rights Network created a voting guide to help people with mental disabilities understand their rights as voters. The best and probably most effective solution would be to spread awareness and get the word out. People may not realize that someone with special needs might struggle to vote.

Sincerely,

Claire Goldstein

Work cited

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. "Voting." Voting. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

"Voters With Disabilities Fight For More Accessible Polling Places." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

By Jazmin Kay | September 30, 2015 at 11:22 Am. "Disabled And Denied: The Fight for Voting Rights For People With Disabilities." Generation Progress. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.