Accessible Voting in Washington
For the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Election in Washington
- Same day voter registration is available.
- All registered 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 (800) 448-4881 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 Washington for voters with disabilities
- All voters 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.
Early voting is called in-person voting in Washington.
October 21 through November 7, early voting is available at voting centers.
Early voting hours and locations can vary. Check with your local elections office.
- All voters are asked to show a photo ID.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
- Same-day registration is available at designated early voting locations.
- 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.
Voting centers are open on Election Day until 8:00 pm. Opening times vary by location.
- Same-day registration is available at all Election Day voting locations.
- All voters are asked to show a photo ID.
- Voters without ID can sign an affidavit.
Find your polling place.
Accessible voting systems for in-person voting
The accessible voting systems used in Washington 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)
Clear Ballot ClearAccess
A ballot marking device.
It has a touchscreen, audio, and tactile controls on a small keypad.
The printed ballot is a facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot.
Ballots are cast at a separate scanner.
Learn more about using ClearAccess
- Short video tutorial from Clear Ballot (YouTube 1:49)
- Clear Access product page
- Information about ClearAccess 2.0 from Pennsylvania
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
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
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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 the day before Election Day, November 7.
How to get your ballot
- All registered 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
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...
Make sure your ballot is sealed in the envelope.
Sign the form on the envelope.
Postage is pre-paid so you don't need a stamp.
If you mail your ballot, make sure it is postmarked by Election Day.
- Ask your local elections office who can return your ballot for you.
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 Washington, the accessible vote by mail program is run by the local elections offices
The Online Ballot Marking Program is designed to enable voters who are blind or have low vision to cast a private ballot.
- If the ballot is damaged or lost, any voter can mark their ballot on a computer and print it out to return it.
- Contact your local election office to request access
Deadline to return your ballot:
Postmarked by the day before Election Day, November 7.
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
To return your ballot:
- By mail
- At a secure drop box
The systems in use in Washington for accessible voting by mail are:
DemocracyLive OmniBallot Portal
Accessible system for voting by mail.
Delivers and returns ballot through a secure online portal.
Creates a paper facsimile of a hand-marked paper ballot for tabulation.
Voters have the option to print and mail their ballot.
Claims WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility.
Learn more about using Omni Ballot
- Democracy Live Website
- Short tutorial from Democracy Live (YouTube :30)
- Electronic return process from Democracy Live (YouTube 11:28)
Learn more about accessible voting options in Washington