Disability Rights Pennsylvania Announces Voting Assistance for Voters with Disabilities

October 24, 2024 | by sau1admin

For Immediate Release

Disability Rights Pennsylvania Announces Voting Assistance for Voters with Disabilities

Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP), a leader in disability rights legal advocacy services for forty-seven (47) years is available to provide voter assistance and answer questions about voting rights to persons with disabilities in Pennsylvania. People can contact DRP up to and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Voters with disabilities who have questions about absentee or mail-in ballots, casting a ballot from a long-term care facility, asking and receiving an accommodation from their county, finding their polling place or other issues prior to Election Day can email DRP at intake@disabilityrightspa.org or call 800-692-7443 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

On November 5, DRP will work with Election Protection from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm for any issues related to the vote for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. You can contact 866-OUR-VOTE.

“The disability community is ready to cast our ballots this election,” said Peri Jude Radecic, Chief Executive Officer of Disability Rights Pennsylvania. “Over the years, federal civil rights laws have improved accessibility, but the system is not perfect. People with disabilities may still face barriers in registering or voting. It is important to remember what those rights are so if the system breaks down, you can call Disability Rights Pennsylvania for help.”

Federal civil rights laws were passed to ensure people with disabilities have access to polling places, are able to register to vote, have voting materials in accessible formats, and can exercise a private and independent vote. These laws include 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.

Barriers for people with disabilities up to, and on, Election Day can include uneven implementation or interpretation of the law across all counties in the Commonwealth, inaccessible polling places, lack of accommodations, voter intimidation, and accessible machine failures. Voters who experience problems or barriers should call 800-692-7443 or email: intake@disabilityrightspa.org.

DRP has voting fact sheets available on our Election 2024 page on its website. Voters can go to https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/election2024/ or https://www.disabilityrightspa.org/resources/#voting

Disability Rights Pennsylvania (DRP) is the statewide protection and advocacy agency for Pennsylvanians with disabilities. DRP protects and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities so that they may live the lives they choose, free from abuse, neglect, discrimination, and segregation. DRP’s vision is a Commonwealth where people of all abilities are equal and free. www.disabilityrightspa.org.

Disability Rights Pennsylvania
301 Chestnut Street Suite 300 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
800-692-7443 | intake@disabilityrightspa.org