Virginia State Board of Elections : Voters With Special Needs

1. How and where can I register to vote?

      Any person, regardless of his or her disability status, has the right to register to vote at any office or agency that provides such a service. These offices include but are not limited to: DEPT OF HEALTH (VDH), DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (DSS), DEPT OF MENTAL HEALTH (DMHRSAR), DEPT FOR REHAB SERVICES (DRS), DEPT FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING (VDDHH), and the DEPT FOR THE BLIND AND VISION IMPAIRED (DBVI). Your local Registrar’s Office also has registration forms and should be able to accommodate any special need.  In addition, forms may be downloaded from the State Board of Elections website at www.sbe.virginia.gov.  

      For individuals with vision impairments the State Board of Elections works to provide large print copies of all voting related material. Your local Registrar’s Office should have large print versions of all materials in circulation at this time.  

2. Is curbside voting still available for those who wish to use it?

      Yes, curbside voting is still available for people ages 65 and older, or any person with a disability. With the implementation of HAVA (Help America Vote Act), curbside voters may now be able to vote on an electronic voting device in lieu of a paper ballot.

      To vote curbside the voter must ask his or her driver or other individual to inform the officers of election that there is a person wishing to vote curbside. The necessary equipment will be brought to you in your vehicle. The voter shall be afforded every opportunity to vote in a private and independent fashion, but voting equipment must remain in the view of the election officers.

3. Will I be able to get into the polling place on my own?

      In accordance with the Help America Vote Act, Virginia is in the process of making all of its polling places fully accessible to elderly voters and voters with disabilities.  If you think you may have difficulty getting into the polling place, refer to question 2 above for information on curbside voting.

*If you find that your polling place is not accessible for any reason please follow the link at the bottom of the page to the voter feedback form. The State Board of Elections is dedicated to providing the best voting experience possible.  We will value your input and will keep any remarks confidential.*      

4. Is the voting equipment in my polling place going to be accessible?

      In accordance with the Help America Vote Act every polling location in Virginia must be equipped with at least one accessible voting system that will allow all voters with a disability to vote the same private and independent manner as a voter without a disability.  This change will be fully accomplished by January 1^st 2006.

*If you feel you have not been given the opportunity to vote in accordance with the Help America Vote Act, summarized above, please follow the link at the bottom of the page to the voter feedback form. *

5. I understand that with the changes in elections services I should not need assistance from anyone, but can I still have assistance if I wish to?

      Yes, you can. If any voter who requires assistance in voting due to a physical disability or inability to read or write can receive assistance if they request it. Any of the officers of election can advise you of your rights in this area.

6. Are people with cognitive disabilities allowed to register and vote?

      Yes. A person with cognitive disabilities, due to any reason, can be eligible to vote if they are not currently ruled to be mentally incompetent by a court of law.

If you have a question that has not been addressed here or have found problems that need to be addressed please submit them via our Accessibility Feedback Form.