accessible in a manner compliant with Your Vote is Your Protection and Advocacy Voice the Americans with Disabilities Act for Voter Access (PAVA) (ADA) accessibility guidelines Historically, Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Protection and advocacy systems people with Inc. (MPAS) is the protection and throughout the country must work to disabilities have advocacy system designated to protect the ensure full participation in the electoral voted at a much rights of persons with disabilities in . process for individuals with disabilities, lower rate than Protection and Advocacy for Voter including registering to vote, casting a the general Access (PAVA) resides within MPAS and and vote, accessing polling places population. This is uniquely qualified to address specific is due to many factors, some of which voting issues. There is no charge for our include prejudice and physical barriers services. Know Your Voter Rights blocking access to polling places. Power lies in Contact PAVA with your Thanks to the passage of the Americans the strength with Disabilities Act (ADA) in1990, and voting concerns or questions of numbers. the Help America Vote ACT (HAVA) at 800.288.5923 when: This power in 2002, these traditional barriers are will never be coming down. You need fully realized, assistance when and your collective voice will never be Open, and Accessible registering to heard, until you decide to act. Begin by Voting for all vote knowing your rights. You have In order to achieve an inclusive and equal As a person with a disability, questions about voting standard for all fifty states, the you have a right to: voter rights Help America Vote Act (HAVA) includes Access your public polling place the following stipulations: You encounter harassment or discrimination by an Cast a secret ballot Every polling place in the country must election official have at least one voting device that Have someone of your choosing assist allows voters, regardless of disability, Your polling place is not accessible you in the voting booth to cast their ballots privately and You have not been provided with Request assistance from a poll worker independently the opportunity to vote in an at your polling place All polling places must be physically accessible format Request and cast an absentee ballot
Your Vote is Your Voice Historically, people with disabilities have voted at a much lower rate than the general population. This is due to many factors, some of which include prejudice and physical barriers blocking access to polling places. Thanks to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in1990, and the Help America Vote ACT (HAVA) in 2002, these traditional barriers are coming down. Open, and Accessible Voting for all In order to achieve an inclusive and equal voting standard for all fifty states, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) includes the following stipulations: Every polling place in the country must have at least one voting device that allows voters, regardless of disability, to cast their ballots privately and independently All polling places must be physically accessible in a manner compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility guidelines Protection and advocacy systems throughout the country must work to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places Know Your Voter Rights Power lies in the strength of numbers. This power will never be fully realized, and your collective voice will never be heard, until you decide to act. Begin by knowing your rights. As a person with a disability, you have a right to: Access your public polling place Cast a secret ballot Have someone of your choosing assist you in the voting booth Request assistance from a poll worker at your polling place Request and cast an absentee ballot Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) Michigan Protection & Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS) is the protection and advocacy system designated to protect the rights of persons with disabilities in . Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) resides within MPAS and is uniquely qualified to address specific voting issues. There is no charge for our services. Contact PAVA with your voting concerns or questions at 800.288.5923 when: You need assistance when registering to vote You have questions about voter rights You encounter harassment or discrimination by an election official Your polling place is not accessible You have not been provided with the opportunity to vote in an accessible format
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