Accessible Elections - Information for Election Officials

Election Official Accessibility Training Series

This series focuses on the accessibility of the voting process from voter registration through marking, verifying, and casting ballots in person or by mail. Each video highlights applicable federal laws while demonstrating best practices for election accessibility.

Accessible In-Person Voting

This training outlines how to make the in-person voting process more accessible, starting with the route through the polling place, check-in, ballot marking, verification, casting, and the operation of accessible voting machines. It demonstrates best practices for parking lots, curbside voting, and ballot drop box placement to ensure polling places are accessible. It also covers applicable federal laws.

Accessible Voter Registration

This training discusses ways to ensure that voter registration, whether done via paper or electronic voter registration, is accessible to those with disabilities. This includes creating, requesting, marking, and returning the voter registration form.

Accessible Vote by Mail

This training demonstrates how to make sure the request, marking, returning, and verification of the ballot are accessible. It also outlines the federal laws related to the accessibility of voting by mail.

Accessible Elections - Information for Election Officials

This training series incorporates not only physical accessibility, such as creating accessible polling places, but also promotes ways election administrators can produce accessible websites, social media, other electronic communications, and forums. Each video highlights applicable federal laws while demonstrating best practices for election accessibility.

Understanding Disability

This training provides essential information for election officials on ensuring an accessible voting process. The video contextualizes the relationship between the broad spectrum of people with disabilities and how disabilities can impact the voting process. It outlines the key voting rights of people with disabilities, including the right to accessible machines and assistance.

Interacting with People with Disabilities… and Everyone

This training provides best practices for election officials on interacting with people with disabilities, stressing the rule to always ask before providing any assistance. It covers various communication methods, including working with sign language interpreters and the protocols for handling service dogs. It also provides guidance on "person-first" and "identity-first" preferences, as well as terms to avoid. The core message is to be patient, flexible, and respectful in all interactions.

Assistive Technology

This training defines assistive technology (AT) as any equipment or software used to enhance access for people with disabilities. It details how AT is used throughout the entire election process, from voters using screen readers at home to utilizing mobility devices and specialized features in accessible voting machines.

Basic Considerations for Website Accessibility

This training explains the legal necessity for all government election websites to be usable by everyone. It highlights ADA federal law and explores the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) while providing crucial tips for compliance. The key recommendations include ensuring excellent color contrast, building correct page structure for screen readers, guaranteeing full keyboard navigation, using proper captions and audio descriptions for all media, and having a plan for users to report issues.

Accessible Social Media

This training outlines five key tips for election officials to ensure their social media content is accessible to the widest audience. It stresses the importance of providing descriptive text alternatives for all images and avoiding images of text, which are often inaccessible. By following these guidelines, election officials can prevent unnecessary barriers and ensure critical information is accessible to all voters.

Digital Accessibility

This training stresses that all electronic election information, particularly online forms, must be fully accessible and provide a comparable experience to voters without disabilities. It strongly advises election officials to prioritize accessible HTML websites over complex, hard-to-remediate documents like PDFs or scans. Key practices include starting with accessibility in mind, utilizing built-in structure like heading styles, and using accessibility checkers before distribution.

Making Voter-Related Videos and Forums Accessible to All

This training addresses the need to make voter-related videos, video players, and meetings accessible to all users. It emphasizes that while many video players offer automatic captions, election officials must edit these captions for accuracy and clarity. The video outlines best practices for providing audio descriptions for visually impaired viewers, offers tips for hosting accessible video conferences and hybrid events, including the use of microphones, enabling live captions, and a process for requesting accommodations.

Physical Considerations in the Polling Place

This training highlights the essential ADA requirements and best practices for establishing an accessible in-person voting environment. It breaks down the process into seven key areas, starting with accessible parking and drop-off locations, through the proper maneuvering space within the voting area. The video empowers election officials to provide independent access for all voters.