It’s been more than five months since a federal court reaffirmed that voters with disabilities are entitled to receive help mailing or delivering absentee ballots, but lingering confusion among some local election officials has left some voters facing continuing barriers to their right to vote.
kAm“(92E’D 6DA64:2==J 4@?46C?:?8 :D E92E H6 92G6 962C5 2?5 D66? 6I2>A=6D 7C@> D6G6C2= >F?:4:A2=:E:6D H96C6 E96 4=6C< 24EF2==J :?4=F565 :?DECF4E:@?D 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 23D6?E66 32==@E E92E D2:5 @?=J E96 G@E6C 42? C6EFC? E96:C 32==@E[” s:D23:=:EJ #:89ED (:D4@?D:? DA@<6DA6CD@? q2C32C2 q64<6CE D2:5 62C=:6C E9:D H66<] “|@DE G@E6CD 2C6 8@:?8 E@ D66 E92E 2?5 2446AE E92E[ ‘(6==[ x 8F6DD x 42?’E 92G6 D@>6@?6 2DD:DE >6 H:E9 C6EFC?:?8 >J 32==@E D@ x 8F6DD x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 23=6 E@ G@E6]’”k^Am
kAm%96 7656C2= '@E:?8 #:89ED p4E 2==@HD G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D E@ C646:G6 2DD:DE2?46 2D =@?8 2D E96 A6CD@? 96=A:?8 E96> :D?’E E96 G@E6C’D 6>A=@J6C[ 2? 286?E @7 E92E 6>A=@J6C[ @C 2? @77:46C @C 286?E @7 E96 G@E6C’D F?:@?]k^Am
kAmq64<6CE 564=:?65 E@ ?2>6 E96 4=6C<D D96 D2:5 2C6 @776C:?8 E96 72F=EJ :?DECF4E:@?D 3FE D2:5 E96J’C6 =@42E65 :? 2 92?57F= @7 4@F?E:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 ~K2F<66[ (2F<6D92[ !@CE286 2?5 #@4<]k^Am
kAm%96 r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@? 6DE:>2E6D E92E 23@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^?43555^5:D23:=:EJ2?5962=E9^:?7@8C2A9:4\5:D23:=:EJ\:>A24ED\2==]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 BF2CE6C @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D 25F=E A@AF=2E:@?k^2m 92D D@>6 EJA6 @7 5:D23:=:EJ] %96 p>6C:42? pDD@4:2E:@? 7@C !6@A=6 H:E9 s:D23:=:E:6D C6A@CE65 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]624]8@G^?6HD^a_a`^_f^_f^?6H\52E2\`ff\>:==:@?\2>6C:42?D\5:D23:=:E:6D\G@E65\a_a_\D:8?:7:42?E\:?4C62D6\@G6CRiOiE6IEl}6HQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm`f]f >:==:@? A6@A=6k^2m H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D C6A@CE65 G@E:?8 :? E96 a_a_ AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAmvF2C2?E66:?8 G@E:?8 2446DD E@ :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D 92D 366? 2? @?8@:?8 7:89E :? (:D4@?D:? :? E96 H2<6 @7 (2F<6D92 r@F?EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^H2F<6D92\4@F?EJ\;F586\CF=6D\23D6?E66\32==@E\5C@A\3@I6D\?@E\2==@H65^2CE:4=60d2436ehg\5e72\dhg3\g3`6\`73g5645c2bh]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmyF586 |:4926= q@9C6?’D y2?F2CJ a_aa CF=:?8k^2m E92E (:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? 8F:52?46 2==@H:?8 4=6C<D E@ FD6 23D6?E66 32==@E 5C@A 3@I6D 4@?7=:4E65 H:E9 DE2E6 =2H]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D CF=:?8[ q@9C6? 2=D@ 2DD6CE65 E96 4@>>:DD:@? 6CC65 :? E6==:?8 4=6C<D E92E 2 72>:=J >6>36C @C @E96C A6CD@? 4@F=5 C6EFC? 2 32==@E @? 3692=7 @7 2 G@E6C] q@9C6? D2:5 E92E 8F:52?46 4@?7=:4E65 H:E9 DE2E6 =2H[ H9:49 96 D2:5 AC@9:3:ED 56=:G6C:?8 2? 23D6?E66 32==@E @? 3692=7 @7 2?@E96C :?5:G:5F2= “6I46AE H96C6 E96 =2H 6IA=:4:E=J 2FE9@C:K6D 2? 286?E E@ 24E @? 2? 6=64E@C’D 3692=7]”k^Am
kAm%92E CF=:?8 H2D =2E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^4@FCE\@7\2AA62=D\2==@HD\32==@E\5C@A\3@I6D\E@\36\FD65\:?\DAC:?8\AC:>2CJ^2CE:4=60gc_3eb72\e`35\d74b\g`_e\5_`ch_5bg`be]9E>=n>@56l4@>>6?EDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmDE2J65 3J E96 s:DEC:4E c r@FCE @7 pAA62=Dk^2m[ 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^DA=:E\H:D4@?D:?\DFAC6>6\4@FCE\CF=6D\5C@A\3@I6D\2C6\:==682=\G@E6CD\>FDE\>2:=\@C\92?5\56=:G6C^2CE:4=60dafa47hd\gfb7\d5a`\3d7e\hdd7_573dhaa]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm(:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE :? yF=Jk^2m CF=65 c\b E92E 23D6?E66 32==@ED >FDE 36 56=:G6C65 3J >2:= @C :? A6CD@? E@ 2 =@42= 4=6C<’D @77:46 @C 56D:8?2E65 2=E6C?2E6 D:E6] %96 >2;@C:EJ 2=D@ 96=5 E92E ?@ @?6 3FE E96 G@E6C 42? C6EFC? E96 G@E6C’D 32==@E :? A6CD@? 3FE 5:5 ?@E CF=6 @? H96E96C G@E6CD 42? 92G6 D@>6@?6 6=D6 92?5=6 E96:C 32==@E @? :ED H2J E@ 2 >2:=3@I]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^6a_7743a\gg_b\d55h\hdg`\fbac6f7_fb47QmVxEVD :>A24E:?8 6G6CJ@?6Vi '@E6CD[ 4=6C<D 25;FDE E@ ?6H 6=64E:@? CF=6D 27E6C =:E:82E:@? DFC86k^2mk^Am
kAm%96? 42>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^7656C2=\=2HDF:E\4=2:>D\6=64E:@?D\4@>>:DD:@?\H:D4@?D:?\9:89\4@FCE\4@F=5\5:D6?7C2?49:D6\5:D23=65\G@E6CD^2CE:4=60_a75f33c\g7`7\dad5\3gb`\g232`56a3e46]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 D6A2C2E6 =2HDF:Ek^2m[ 7:=65 :? yF=J 3J D6G6C2= G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D H9@ 2D<65 2 7656C2= 4@FCE E@ 6?DFC6 E96J 42? C646:G6 96=A G@E:?8 7@==@H:?8 E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D 564:D:@? E92E 2AA62C65 E@ D6G6C6=J =:>:E[ :7 ?@E 6=:>:?2E6[ E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ G@E6]k^Am
kAm&]$] s:DEC:4E r@FCE yF586 y2>6D !6E6CD@?[ @7 E96 (6DE6C? s:DEC:4E @7 (:D4@?D:?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^7656C2=\;F586\CF=6D\E92E\5:D23=65\H:D4@?D:?:E6D\2C6\6?E:E=65\E@\C646:G6\96=A\G@E:?8^2CE:4=60dg`c3776\d3_`\d62g\37b5\f234e4fe_37h]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm:? pF8FDE CF=65k^2m E92E 7656C2= =2H C6BF:C6D =@42= 4=6C<D 2?5 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D E@ AC@G:56 2DD:DE2?46 E@ G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ C682C5=6DD @7 H92E DE2E6 DE2EFE6D D2J @C 564:D:@?D 3J E96 (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE]k^Am
kAm!6E6CD@? 2=D@ @C56C65 E96 (:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? E@ E6== E96 DE2E6’D >F?:4:A2= 4=6C<D @7 E96 AC@G:D:@?D AC@G:565 :? E96 7656C2= '@E:?8 #:89ED p4E 7@C G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D]k^Am
k9bm#6>:?56C E@ 4=6C<Dk^9bm
kAms2JD 27E6C !6E6CD@?’D CF=:?8[ E96 (:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? G@E65[ c\a[ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^8@GE\2?5\A@=:E:4D^H:D4@?D:?\6=64E:@?D\4@>>:DD:@?\2AAC@G6D\8F:52?46\7@C\5:D23=65\G@E6CD\7@==@H:?8\4@FCE\@C56C^2CE:4=60h_7hdfe4\342c\defa\gc5g\637h`_6h`2bd]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm:DDF6 E96 8F:52?46k^2m E@ =@42= 6=64E:@? 4=6C<D]k^Am
kAm“x? 25>:?:DE6C:?8 7FEFC6 6=64E:@?D[ 2== >F?:4:A2= 4=6C<D 2?5 E96:C DE277 D9@F=5 4@>A=J H:E9 E96 23@G6 DE2EFE@CJ C6BF:C6>6?E[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6=64E:@?D]H:]8@G^>6>@^8F:52?46\23D6?E66\32==@E\C6EFC?\@AE:@?D\F?56C\7656C2=\G@E:?8\C:89ED\24EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm244@C5:?8 E@ E96 8F:52?46k^2m 5@4F>6?E D6?E E@ 4=6C<D @? $6AE] f]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^h_7hdfe4\342c\defa\gc5g\637h`_6h`2bdQm(:D4@?D:? t=64E:@?D r@>>:DD:@? 2AAC@G6D 8F:52?46 7@C 5:D23=65 G@E6CD 7@==@H:?8 4@FCE @C56Ck^2mk^Am
kAm%96 8F:52?46 2=D@ :?7@C>D 4=6C<D E92E E96J 5@ ?@E ?665 E@ 4@?7:C> 2 G@E6C’D 5:D23:=:EJ DE2EFD :7 E96J :56?E:7J 2D C6BF:C:?8 2DD:DE2?46 C6EFC?:?8 2 32==@E 5F6 E@ 2 5:D23:=:EJ] r=6C<D 2=D@ 5@ ?@E ?665 E@ 4@?7:C> E96 :56?E:EJ @7 E96 5:D23=65 G@E6C @C E96 A6CD@?’D 286?E]k^Am
kAm|2CE92 r92>36CD[ 2 A=2:?E:77 :? E96 7656C2= =2HDF:E H9@ 92D 366? A2C2=JK65 7C@> E96 ?64< 5@H? 7@C >@C6 E92? a_ J62CD D:?46 72==:?8 @77 2 9@CD6[ 42??@E FD6 96C 2C>D @C =68D E@ @A6? 5@@CD[ 8C2DA 2? 23D6?E66 32==@E[ A=246 2? 23D6?E66 32==@E :? 2 >2:=3@I @C 92?5 :E E@ 2 >F?:4:A2= 4=6C<]k^Am
kAmr92>36CD D2:5 %9FCD52J D96 92D 2=H2JD C646:G65 96=A 7C@> 2 E9:C5 A2CEJ H96? G@E:?8 23D6?E66 2?5 :D 7CFDEC2E65 E92E[ 56DA:E6 !6E6CD@?’D CF=:?8 2?5 E96 DF3D6BF6?E 8F:52?46 7C@> E96 6=64E:@?D 4@>>:DD:@?[ E96C6’D 2? 2AA2C6?E =24< @7 4@?D:DE6?4J @? E96 >2EE6C 2>@?8 E96 DE2E6’D >@C6 E92? `[g__ =@42= 4=6C<D]k^Am
kAm“xE 5@6D 4@?46C? >6[” r92>36CD D2:5] “tG6CJ >F?:4:A2=:EJ D9@F=5 92G6 E96 D2>6 5:C64E:@?D] xE 5@6D?’E D66> E92E 5:77:4F=E] *@F H@F=5 E9:?< :E D9@F=5 36 72:C=J D:>A=6]”k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>25:D@?]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^dafa47hd\gfb7\d5a`\3d7e\hdd7_573dhaaQm$A=:E (:D4@?D:? $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=6D 5C@A 3@I6D 2C6 :==682=[ G@E6CD >FDE >2:= @C 92?5\56=:G6C 23D6?E66 32==@ED E@ 4=6C<k^2mk^Am
k9bmu@==@H\FA 8F:52?46k^9bm
kAmp7E6C =62C?:?8 @7 AC@3=6>D D@>6 A6@A=6 H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D 925 DF3>:EE:?8 E96:C 23D6?E66 32==@ED[ E96 286?4J D6?E 2 7@==@H\FA ?@E6 E@ =@42= 4=6C<D 62C=:6C E9:D >@?E9 C6:E6C2E:?8 E92E G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D 2C6 6?E:E=65 E@ 2DD:DE2?46 H96? 56=:G6C:?8 E96:C 23D6?E66 32==@E[ 6=64E:@?D 4@>>:DD:@? DA@<6DA6CD@? y@9? $>2==6J D2:5] %96 4@>>:DD:@? 2=D@ 255C6DD65 E96 >2EE6C :? 2 ?6HD=6EE6C 2?5 C646?E @?=:?6 EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm“$@>6 ;FC:D5:4E:@?D 2C6 :?D6CE:?8 23D6?E66 32==@E :?DECF4E:@?D E92E D2J 2DD:DE2?46 :D AC@9:3:E65[ H:E9@FE ?@E:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?E 6I46AE:@? 7@C G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[” E96 >6>@ C625D] “%9:D :D 6DA64:2==J D:8?:7:42?E 3642FD6 =2DE 72== 2 7656C2= ;F586 :DDF65 2 A6C>2?6?E :?;F?4E:@? 2?5 564=2C2E:@? 277:C>:?8 E96 C:89E @7 E96D6 G@E6CD E@ @3E2:? 2DD:DE2?46] !=62D6 6?DFC6 E92E J@FC 23D6?E66 32==@E :?DECF4E:@?D 5@ ?@E 4@?EC25:4E E96 7656C2= 4@FCE’D @C56C]”k^Am
kAmq64<6CE 92D 2D<65 E96 6=64E:@?D 4@>>:DD:@? E@ FA52E6 E96 F?:7@C> :?DECF4E:@?D 7@C 23D6?E66 G@E6CD AC@G:565 E@ 2== 6=64E:@? 4=6C<D E@ :?4=F56 E96 '@E:?8 #:89ED p4E AC@G:D:@?D[ 2?5 E@ :?4=F56 D:>:=2C :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 23D6?E66 32==@ED H96? E96J 2C6 D6?E E@ G@E6CD]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 2 3:8 6=64E:@? 4@>:?8 FA :? pAC:= 2?5 x H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 E92E G@E6CD H:E9 5:D23:=:E:6D[ H9@ ?665 E96D6 244@>>@52E:@?D[ 2C6 23=6 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96:C C:89E E@ 86E E96 2DD:DE2?46 E92E E96J ?665 E@ G@E6[” q64<6CE D2:5]k^Am
kAmq64<6CE 6?4@FC2865 :?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 4@?46C?D @C BF6DE:@?D @? G@E6C 2446DD:3:=:EJ E@ 4@?E24E s:D23:=:EJ #:89ED (:D4@?D:? 2E gcc\bcf\gegb @C 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i:?7@o5:D23:=:EJG@E6]@C8Qm:?7@o5:D23:=:EJG@E6]@C8k^2m]k^Am
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
