Your Rights As a Voter with Disabilities

Know Your Rights

• Voters have the right to take a person of their choice into the voting booth if they require assistance in voting. They may also ask for assistance from official poll workers.

• People with cognitive impairments may vote, even if they have a guardian, under most circumstances.

• Voters with low vision or other impairments can enlarge the font and change the screen’s contrast on the voting machine.

• Any voters who prefer listening to their ballot may also utilize the Universal Access Console (“UAC”) connected to the voting machine, whose buttons are in Braille and which allows voters to use headphones to listen to rather than read the ballot. Other accessible features are also available.

• While presenting identification is preferred when voting and will expedite the voting process, a voter without identification who is listed in the poll book may sign an affidavit affirming their identity. Delaware does not require photographic or any other identification for most registered voters. If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail, you will require identification. Whether voters bring identification or not, it may be helpful to bring mail, such as utility, tax, rent, or mortgage statements showing their name and address.

• If a person feels intimidated or interfered with in their ability to vote, they should immediately reach out to the polling site supervisor for assistance. It is illegal under Delaware law for a person to “by force, threat, menace or intimidation, prevent or hinder any person…qualified to vote from voting according to said person’s choice at any such general, special or municipal election.”

• The only individuals allowed to challenge a person’s credentials to vote are the two official party challengers located inside each polling location. It is worth noting that these challengers do not decide whether a person is eligible to vote; rather, a vote is taken by the two judges and the inspector. Individual voters who are found not to be eligible after a challenge are to be offered a provisional ballot.

• The Office of the Delaware Election Commissioner has a voter portal, https://ivote.de.gov/. At this site, a voter can check the status of registration and confirm assigned polling place locations. On Election Day, poll workers will make every effort to identify the correct polling place for voters who may have gone to the wrong polling place. However, voters should also be aware of their right to cast a provisional ballot in federal elections, should the polling place refuse to allow them to vote. A procedure is also available for petitioning in Superior Court under certain circumstances. Identification is required for provisional voting. Voters may also file complaints with the Delaware Election Commissioner.