The Americans with Disabilities Act was heralded as landmark legislation, offering people with disabilities protection from discrimination while guaranteeing their rights.
But three decades after the ADA was signed, activists and advocates say people with disabilities are still facing barriers exercising a fundamental right: the right to vote.
Sunday marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, falling in the same year as what many voters see as one of the most important elections of their lifetimes. But Americans with disabilities still face access issues when they go to vote, including inaccessible polling locations, under-trained poll workers and nonworking voting machines for people with disabilities.
As the coronavirus pandemic adds another layer of uncertainty over the safety of voting in person during the November election, disability rights advocates are even more concerned. People with disabilities make up the country’s largest minority group, with 61 million Americans living with a disability.
“Nobody should have to make a choice between being able to cast their ballot and protecting their health,” said Michelle Bishop, who works on voter access initiatives for the National Disability Rights Network.