False claims of voter fraud threaten disabled Pennsylvanians’ right to vote

On Nov. 8, Pennsylvanians across the state will cast their votes, including over 2.6 million adults who identify as having a disability. In the two years since the 2020 presidential election, there have been widespread, unproven claims of voter fraud. The misinformation related to mail-in voting has the potential to threaten disabled people’s rights to cast their votes. Disability rights are everyone’s rights, and we must guarantee that those rights are secured for future elections at every level of government.

There are numerous federal laws established to protect the rights of voters with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act of 2002. These laws were created to ensure wheelchair access, headphones for audio ballots, braille, and access to mail-in voting, among other equities. Despite these laws, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, nearly 60% among a sample of poll places had potential impediments that would inhibit people with disabilities from accessing polling locations.

In the United States, nearly 62% of voters with disabilities voted in 2020, up from 56% in 2016. This change is in large part thanks to the pandemic, which increased accessible options for voters such as same-day registration, drop boxes, mail-in voting, and early voting. In Pennsylvania, voters with disabilities currently have a number of other accessibility options, including assistance at the polling place and voting with an accessible voting system. Disabled voters also have the right to use a designated agent to apply for, pick up, or deliver their mail-in ballot if their disability prevents them from doing so in person. Under this mandate, disabled voters can still participate in their civic duty even if they are not able to hand deliver their ballot.

Recent lawsuits by Republican elected officials sought to end Pennsylvania’s no-excuse mail-in voting. In August, the state Supreme Court struck down a lawsuit and upheld Act 77, which expanded the state’s no-excuse mail-in voting. But other lawsuits that seek to end mail-in ballot voting are ongoing and pose a threat to the accessible voting systems that benefit not only the 2.6 million Pennsylvania adults with disabilities but also their caregivers and families. Mail-in ballots provide flexibility to these families and caregivers by allowing them to vote when it’s convenient. False claims of voter fraud threaten the disabled community’s right to vote.

Disability is a fluid category. The reality is that at any time, anyone can become disabled. Disability rights are not a niche issue. In the U.S., one in four Americans, or 61 million adults, live with a disability. Philadelphia has the highest rate of disability among large U.S. cities. This ranges from difficulty walking, vision or hearing impairments, and cognition challenges, to an inability to conduct basic self-care.

Whether a disability is temporary or long-term, no voter wants to miss their opportunity to make their voice heard. Every Pennsylvanian should be working to protect the laws that have created accessible voting for all.

» READ MORE: Disabled Pennsylvanians need more support

The independent nonprofit organization Disability Rights Pennsylvania published several election 2022 voter resources. These guides include information on what to do if a polling location isn’t accessible and how to request and access mail-in and absentee voting.

As we approach the registration deadline for the upcoming general election on Oct. 24, our state must ensure that disabled Pennsylvanians are registered to vote, know their voting rights, and have a voting plan in place for Election Day.

Voting should be simple, free, and accessible. Only when we include and empower all voices will we truly create the foundation for an equitable society.

Marian Baldini is the president and CEO of KenCrest, a human services provider that serves 12,500 people throughout Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Delaware.