Accessible Voting in Virginia
For the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General election in Virginia
- You must be registered to vote.
- All voters can request a ballot by mail.
- Early voting locations are open before Election Day
- Voters with disabilities can use an accessible vote-by-mail system.
- All voters are asked to show identification.
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 Accessible Voting page or call (800) 552-9745 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 Virginia for voters with disabilities
- Sign up to automatically receive a ballot by mail for all elections
- 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.
September 24 through November 5, early voting is available at your local registrar's office or a satellite voting location.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- All voters are asked to show identification.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
- You can drop off your ballot at all early voting locations for your jurisdiction.
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 6:00 am to 7:00 pm.
- All voters are asked to show identification.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
Find your polling place.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in Virginia are shown below. Contact your local election office for more information or a change to practice using the system you will vote on.
AutoMARK
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on the front of the device.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using an AutoMARK
- Short video from Wisconsin Elections (YouTube 3:55)
- Video from NY City Board of Elections (YouTube 13:47)
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.
Dominion ImageCast Precinct BMD
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen and audio tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed and then cast at a scanner.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Learn more about using the Dominion ICP
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 Writer
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls using the Hart “move wheel.”
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
The ballot is cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using the Touch Writer
- Short video tutorial from Hart (YouTube 2:29)
- Longer instructional video from Michigan (YouTube 11:36)
- Information about Verity Touch Writer from Pennsylvania
- Verity Touch Writer product page from Hart InterCivic
Unisyn OpenElect Voting Interface (OVI and OVI-VC)
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The ballot is printed on a small strip of paper using a built-in printer.
The OVI-VC is used in early voting centers.
Learn more about using the OVI
- Short video tutorial from Unisyn (Vimeo 3:03 - no captions)
- OpenElect OVI product page from Unisyn
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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 noon on November 11 for mailed ballots.
How to get your ballot
- All voters can request a ballot.
- Voters can sign up to receive a ballot for all future elections.
To get your ballot you can:
- Request a ballot online.
- Download, print, and mail a request form.
- Fill out and return the form you received in the mail.
- Return the request form by email or fax.
- You must provide the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
How to return your ballot
By mail
At a secure drop box
At any ballot drop-off 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.
Have a witness sign the form on the envelope.
- Voters with disabilities can appoint someone to return their ballot for them. 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.
There is a statewide accessible vote by mail program in Virginia called Accessible Absentee Voting
- You can use accessible vote by mail if you have a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot.
To use accessible absentee voting in Virginia you can:
- Apply online through the Citizen’s Portal.
- Download and complete the Absentee Application Form. Select the “print disabled” option.
Your ballot will be delivered by email and can be marked using screen reader assistive technology.
Carefully review the instructions to complete and return your ballot to your local registrar by 7:00 pm on Election Day.
If you have questions about using the ballot-marking tool, please contact the ADA Ombudsman, call 1-800-552-9745 or TTY 711.
Contact your local election office for more information.
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked by Election Day, November 8 and received by noon on November 11 for mailed ballots.
Returning a printed ballot
To return a printed ballot:
- Print the marked ballot and check it to be sure it is marked correctly
- Follow the instructions to complete any forms that must be returned with the ballot.
- Sign the voter’s signature form
- Seal the ballot in an envelope
You can return your ballot:
- By mail
- At any ballot drop-off location
The systems in use in Virginia for accessible voting by mail are:
Enhanced Voting Enhanced Ballot
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Electronic ballot delivery to mark and print.
Claims WCAG 2.0 Level AA and Section 508 compliance.
Learn more about using Enhanced Ballot
Learn more about accessible voting options in Virginia