HOW CAN I GET HELP VOTING?

I don’t read or write English. How can I get help voting?

If you do not read or write English, here are some options:

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• Choose someone to help you vote, like a friend or family member. The person you choose cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union.

• Get a ballot in your language. There are only a few communities where you can get a ballot in a language other than English.

 

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If you live in Clyde Township, Covert Township, or Fennville, you can get a ballot in Spanish. 

If you live in Hamtramck, you can get a ballot in Bengali or Arabic.

If you live in Dearborn, you can get a ballot in Arabic.

I’m a person with a physical disability. How can I get help voting?

If you are a person with a physical disability, there are several ways for you to vote privately and independently. It can help to make a plan in advance, whether you vote before Election Day or on Election Day.

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You can apply for a standard or accessible absentee ballot.

• To apply for a standard absentee ballot, see Voting From Home Before Election Day for more information.

• To apply for an accessible absentee ballot, visit mi.gov/vote and click on “Accessible voting.” The accessible ballot allows you to mark the ballot from home, using your own electronic device and assistive technology. After marking the ballot, you will need to print it, sign it using your official signature, that is, the signature that you use to sign your driver’s license or voter registration form, and return the ballot to your local clerk by the deadline for that election. See Voting From Home Before Election Day for more information on how to return your absentee ballot.

 

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You can make sure that your early voting site or polling place is accessible before Election Day.

• Every clerk’s office, early voting site, and polling place must be accessible to people with disabilities.

• Every early voting site and polling place should have at least one voting station adapted to allow a person to vote while seated.

• All voters, including voters with disabilities, should have access to an accessible voting machine called a Voter Assist Terminal. The Voter Assist Terminal helps you mark your ballot with your choices. Once the ballot is marked, the ballot will be printed, and you can insert it into the tabulator to be counted the same way as all other ballots.

 

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If your assigned early voting site or polling place is not accessible, you can call your city or township clerk and ask for an assignment to a site that is accessible. If you are unable to get help from your city or township clerk, call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683 to report the issue.      

 

If you are unable to enter your early voting site or polling place, you can request curbside voting. Ask someone to go into the early voting site or polling place to ask for curbside voting for you. The workers at your early voting site or polling place will bring a ballot outside so you can vote.

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If you have any issues voting, call the nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at

(866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683.

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I’m blind or low vision. How can I get help voting?

If you are blind or low vision, you have a few ways to vote. Remember that you always have the right to assistance and to have a private and independent voting experience.

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• You can take someone with you to help you vote. They can read the ballot to you and write in your votes. The person who helps you vote cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your labor union.

• You can use the Voter Assist Terminal. All voters, including voters with disabilities, must have access to an accessible voting machine called a Voter Assist Terminal. The Voter Assist Terminal will help you mark your ballot with your choices. Once the ballot is marked, it will be printed, and you can insert it into the tabulator to be counted the same way as all other ballots.

• You can apply for an accessible absentee ballot online. Visit mi.gov/vote and click on “Accessible voting.” The accessible ballot allows you to mark the ballot from home on an electronic device, using your own assistive technology. After completing the ballot, you will need to print it, sign it using your official signature, and return the ballot to your local clerk by the deadline for that election.

 

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I’m deaf or hard of hearing. How can I get help voting?

You can choose someone to help you vote, like a friend or family member. They can read the ballot to you and help you mark the ballot. However, the person you choose cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your labor union.

 

If you have questions or concerns about voting, the National Association of the Deaf has a Voter Information Hotline that can be reached at (301) 818-8683. This hotline offers resources and answers questions related to voting, all in American Sign Language (ASL).

I can’t read or write, or I need help reading or writing. How can I get help voting?

You can choose someone to help you vote, like a friend or family member. They can read the ballot to you and help you mark the ballot. However, the person you choose cannot be your employer, an agent of your employer or an officer or agent of your labor union.

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Once I’m at my early voting site or polling place, can I ask for help?

Yes, you have the right to help from the election officials. For example, you can ask for help:

 

• Getting to the voting booth.

• Reading or marking your ballot.

• Using the voting equipment.

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You can even ask for help after you’ve entered the voting booth if you run into problems.

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The State of Michigan has an Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections. The

Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections responds to and assists individuals with disabilities who are attempting to vote. To communicate with the Ombudsperson for Accessible Elections, you can call (517) 335-2730 or email ADAVoting@michigan.gov.

 

Voters with disabilities can also contact Disability Rights Michigan for help understanding their voting rights or if someone is interfering with their voting rights. To contact Disability Rights Michigan, call (800) 288-5923 | TTY: (517) 374-4687 or visit DRMich.org.​​​​​​​​

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