Accessible elections are essential to a functioning democracy, ensuring every citizen’s opportunity to vote regardless of their native language or physical abilities.
In the U.S., 1 in 5 eligible voters speak a language other than English at home. Roughly the same number experience some degree of visual, hearing, or mobility impairment.
As a result, two federal laws exist to ensure equitable access to the election process: The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which mandates language provisions for non-native English-speaking communities representing 5% or more of a county’s population, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which requires that accessible accommodations be available in election materials and polling places.
Both laws are vital components of the election process. However, many county registrars need help understanding and implementing these complex policies.
Language and Communication Barriers
For many non-English-speaking citizens, language barriers present a significant challenge in understanding ballot information, voting procedures, and candidate platforms.
When language barriers go unaddressed, citizens can feel underinformed, leading to lower voter turnout among these groups.
Additionally, political candidates can lose their ability to engage with multilingual constituents, potentially impacting the outcome of their races.
So, the need for language access extends beyond maintaining compliance with federal laws – it allows citizens and candidates living in diverse areas to participate in the democratic process with confidence.
Despite polling stations offering language support services, many still fall short of providing adequate translated voting materials or having interpreters on hand at polling stations. This has the potential to prevent people from fully participating in the election process.
But the communication challenges faced by voters go beyond language barriers. Voters who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, and heard of heating encounter similar challenges accessing election information. These challenges need to be recognized.
So, how can County registrars improve accessibility during election seasons so all eligible citizens can vote with confidence?
Best Practices to Improve Election Accessibility
Translation and Interpretation Services
County registrars must offer multilingual voting materials, such as facsimile ballots and candidate statements, to non-native English-speaking voters who meet the 5% population threshold. Additionally, remote and in-person interpreters must be made available at no expense to multilingual voters at polling stations.
Accessible formats
Voters with visual impairments are entitled to a variety of election materials, including ballots in alternative formats, particularly large print and braille. These formats should be available both at polling stations and via mail-in voting.
Sign Language Interpreters
ASL interpreters should be available at polling stations to ensure that all deaf and hard-of-hearing voters understand the correct voting procedures. If voters are unavailable to access on-site interpreters, remote interpreters should be made available.
Captioning and Written Formats
All audio and video materials related to voting, including public announcements and debates, should be captioned and made available in written formats. This helps ensure all constituents have access to information leading up to Election Day.
It’s easy to think that these accessibility measures are simply about compliance. However, it’s important to remember that at the heart of the election process are the people who participate in it.
Investing in accessibility solutions is an effective way to make the election process more equitable for all eligible voters. Providing these solutions improves voter turnout and ensures that all US citizens are better represented during election season.
What to know more about how accessibility solutions can help you ensure everyone gets to experience your content? Click below to find out more.
Accessibility Solutions
