Accessible Voting in California
For the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Election in California
- Same day voter registration is available.
- All active voters are mailed a ballot.
- Early voting locations are open before Election Day
- All voters can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
Accessible Voting Tips
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to vote privately and independently, at an accessible voting location, on an accessible voting system.
If you need more information or assistance using your right to vote, these organizations can help
- Visit your state Voters with Disabilities page or call (916) 653-6814 for the options available in your state.
- Contact your local election office for help voting and details about local support for accessible voting.
- Your local Center for Independent Living has information and other support.
- Call your state National Disability Rights Network (NRDN) Protection & Advocacy office if someone is interfering with your right to vote.
- If you are a first-time voter or moved recently, check the voter ID requirements in your state. VoteRiders has information about the types of identification accepted.
- You can also call 1-800-OUR-VOTE to report any problems voting.
Your rights
As a voter with a disability, you have a right to:
- Vote privately and independently
- At an accessible polling place
- Using an accessible voting system
If you need assistance you can:
- Ask an election worker, or
- Bring someone to help you
You may request your local election officials to tell you about any voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available.
Election officials must make any reasonable accommodations you need to vote. This might include
- A place to sit if you have trouble standing
- A quiet, private place to vote
You cannot be refused the right to vote because an election worker thinks your disability means you are not qualified to vote.
Open the sections on this page to learn more about accessible options for early voting, voting in person on election day, and voting by mail.
Accessible voting features in California for voters with disabilities
- Voters with print disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
Ask your local election office about other support for accessible voting, like:
- Election and voting information in large print, audio, or Braille versions.
- Curbside or drive-up voting, so you don’t have to get out of your car.
- Ballot delivery to your home or a “ride to the polls” program.
- An opportunity to practice using the accessible voting system.
- Emergency voting options if you are hospitalized or ill.
- How to get assistance in marking and casting your ballot.
- Other services or assistance for voters with disabilities.
Learn more about the laws that protect your rights
Early voting is voting in person before Election Day, which is usually less crowded than going to vote on Election Day itself. There are different kinds of early voting, so check the options available for you. They might include:
- vote centers where you can vote at any location in your jurisdiction
- super polling places where you are assigned a location
- voting at an elections office or satellite office
- in-person absentee, where you go to an elections office, get your mail ballot, and then mark and cast it in the office.
October 10 through November 7, early voting is available at your local election office and other satellite locations.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- Same-day registration is available at designated early voting locations.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations.
Find an early voting center near you.
When you vote in person on Election Day, you go to a voting center to mark and cast your ballot in person. Every in-person voting location is required to have accessible voting systems available.
Polling places are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
- Same-day registration is available at designated Election Day locations.
- You can drop off your mail ballot at all Election Day voting locations.
You can drop off your mail ballot at your local elections office on Election Day.
Find your polling place.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in California are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
Dominion ImageCast X
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed using a separate printer.
The printed ballot has a list of the voter’s selections and a QR code.
The ballot is cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using Dominion ICX
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 2:32)
- Short video tutorial from Sacramento (You Tube 3:40)
- Longer instructional video from Michigan (YouTube 15:16)
- Information about Dominion ICX from Pennsylvania
Dominion ImageCast Evolution
A ballot marking device attached to a ballot scanner.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed internally and cast on the same device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
ES&S ExpressVote
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a list of selections printed on a narrow card.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ExpressVote
- Short video tutorial from Pennsylvania (YouTube 1:53)
- Video from Michigan (You Tube 12:29)
- Information about ExpressVote from Pennsylvania
Hart InterCivic Verity Touch
Electronic voting system.
It has a touch screen, audio,and tactile controls using the Hart “move wheel.”
Ballots are cast electronically.
Learn more about using the Touch Writer
- Short video tutorial from Hart (YouTube 1:30)
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Voting by mail can be an accessible option for voters with disabilities. It lets you vote at home, so you can mark, verify and return a paper ballot privately and independently. Some states have emergency options if you are hospitalized or ill. |
Deadline to return your ballot
Postmarked by Election Day, November 8 and received by November 15 for mailed ballots.
How to get your ballot
- All active voters are mailed a ballot.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At a secure drop box
At your local elections office
At a voting location on Election Day
At an early voting location
Find a ballot drop-off location near you at your local elections website.
Make sure your ballot counts! Remember...
If you mail your ballot, make sure it is postmarked by Election Day.
Postage is pre-paid so you don't need a stamp.
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
- A family member, household member, or caregiver can return your ballot for you. Contact your local elections office for more information.
- If someone helped you, have them complete the form for assistants.
Learn about accessible voting by mail options in the next card.
Accessible voting by mail allows voters with disabilities to mark a mail-in ballot electronically, using their own technology and assistive tools.
To use accessible tools for voting by mail, typically voters:
- Download an electronic ballot to mark using personal technology
- Print the ballot and any signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
- Return it by mail or to a ballot drop off locatoin
Some states allow electronic return by email, fax, or a secure portal.
In California, the accessible vote by mail program is run by the local elections offices
Deadline to return your ballot
Postmarked by Election Day, November 8 and received by November 15 for mailed ballots.
Returning a printed ballot
- Request a RAVBM on the My Voter Status page
- Print the marked ballot and check it to be sure it is marked correctly
- Sign the envelope received from the elections office using punched holes that will help guide visually impaired voters where the signature is needed. (If using your own envelope, sign anywhere on the outside of the envelope.)
- Seal the ballot in the envelope
You can return your ballot:
- By mail
- At a secure drop box
- At any ballot drop-off location
- At your local election office
The systems in use in California for accessible voting by mail are:
DemocracyLive Secure Select
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Electronic ballot delivery.
Prints a paper facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Learn more about using Secure Select
Dominion ImageCast Remote
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Creates a summary list-style ballot with warnings about missed opportunities to make a selection.
Ballot is downloaded for return as a PDF file.
Learn more about using ImageCast Remote
- Product Brochure (PDF)
Los Angeles County VSAP Remote Accessible Vote by Mail
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Part of the Voting System for All People (VSAP).
Access and mark the ballot online, then print or download the ballot to return.
Learn more about using VSAP
Learn more about accessible voting options in California