What are my rights as a voter?

Each state has its own set of laws that govern how elections are run, but there are several federal laws that protect voting rights for eligible U.S. citizens. The 1965 Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination and requires jurisdictions to allow voting assistance in all but a couple of circumstances, and the Help America Vote Act provides that (1) voters must be able to vote privately and independently, (2) they must be given the opportunity to change or correct their ballot before it is cast, and (3) allows voters to vote a provisional or fail-safe ballot.  

Your Rights When Voting 

Federal election laws help protect your voting rights and the election process. Generally, voters have the right to: 

• Vote if they are still in line when the polls close  

• Ask for another ballot if they make a mistake  

• Ask for a provisional ballot if they are not on the voter list at their polling location 

• Ask for language assistance from a poll worker if they need help reading or understanding how to vote 

• Not be intimidated or harassed while voting 

Voting with a Disability 

Federal law also provides protection for voters with disabilities. Specifically, voters with disabilities have the right to:  

• Vote privately and independently  

• Have an accessible polling location with voting machines for voters with disabilities  

Voters may either:  

• Seek assistance from workers at their polling location who have been trained to use the accessible voting machine, or  

• Bring someone to help them vote  

Voters may request information about voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available.  

For more information, visit eac.gov/vote or contact the U.S. Election Assistance Commission by phone at 866-747-1471 or by email at [email protected]. Information about the Americans with Disabilities Act is available at ada.gov. 

Additional Resources 

The best source of information for your state’s voter registration and voting laws is your state or local elections office. Visit eac.gov/vote for quick links to your state or territory’s elections website. 

You can find more information about federal laws on Civil Rights Division’s website justice.gov/crt/voting-section. 

For a list of federal voting rights laws and protections, as well as other voting information, visit usa.gov/voting and vote.gov.