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We should expand, not reduce voting accessibility for Minnesotans with disabilities [1]

['More From Author', 'October', 'Michael L. Sack']

Date: 2022-10-19

Republican nominee for secretary of state Kim Crockett’s past comments questioning whether citizens should be able to vote if they require help are disturbing, disrespectful, and downright wrong. Of course, eligible voters with disabilities must have the option to vote, even with assistance. That has been their fundamental right since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed and signed by President Lyndon Johnson.

If we want to live in a true democracy, the secretary of state must continue providing appropriate accommodations, like supplying AutoMARK balloting machines to every polling location, and training more election officials on how to assist citizens with a variety of limitations so every person has the chance to make their voice heard.

For many voters with restricted dexterity, the AutoMARK machine is an absolute necessity to cast their ballot. The mechanism provides Minnesotans a way of marking their ballot using a touch screen. It is very accessible to use because the machine is at the height of a user of a wheelchair or walker. Every device is equipped with a headphone for those who want their choices read to them.

A voter who wants to use an AutoMARK machine just needs to inform an election official, who will assist the voter in getting set-up by placing their ballot in the machine. After every desirable selection is marked, the voter presses the “mark ballot” button, then the machine prints their ballot for them to take over to the ballot scanner. If we were to remove these important devices, thousands of Minnesotans like me would be denied partaking in an election, which is in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

People with disabilities — who are often immunocompromised and thus more vulnerable to COVID-19 — have struggled disproportionately over the past two-and-a half years. There should never be a time to take a step backward! In fact, Minnesota should look for ways to expand disability participation in the community, which includes voting.

I would like to see the Office of the Secretary of State revamp its website to provide easily accessible and expanded information on how citizens with various disabilities can vote; what they should do to prepare to vote; and what transportation options are out there to get to their polling location. In addition, Minnesota should create an in-depth video on the different ways people with impairments can vote, and the steps that they need to take. Minnesota could also start a social media campaign all about voter accessibility.

Currently, there is no one to tell voters with disabilities how they can participate. A few simple steps would greatly improve that problem and expand voter participation.

The first step, however, is affirming that Minnesotans with disabilities are citizens with all the rights and privileges of everyone else, starting with the right to choose our elected representatives by voting.

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[1] Url: https://minnesotareformer.com/2022/10/19/we-should-expand-not-reduce-voting-accessibility-for-minnesotans-with-disabilities/

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