Paraquad’s Accessible Missouri Voters Guide
Voting is a fundamental human right in the U.S., but historically, people with disabilities have had low participation rates in elections. This trend changed in 2020, with an unprecedented 17.7 million people with disabilities casting their vote in the presidential election.
As a disability rights organization, Paraquad wants to maintain this momentum by sharing information about voting laws, processes and more. Our team compiled this Missouri voters guide regarding accessibility and voting issues. Dive in to learn how and why you should vote in the presidential election on November 5, 2024. Missouri Secretary of State
Registering to Vote
In the digital age, registering to vote is more accessible than ever. With an acceptable form of personal identification, voters in Missouri can register:
Online. Most states allow you to register to vote or update your registration online — Missouri’s online registration is available now.
By Mail. You can download, print and submit the National Mail Voter Registration Form. If needed, feel free to ask a friend or family member to help you fill out and mail the form.
In Person. Several government agencies offer in-person registration at election offices, motor vehicle offices, libraries and some university offices. Notably, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) requires offices that provide public assistance to people with disabilities also to provide voter registration opportunities.
Within seven days of registering, your election authority will mail you verification that your registration was approved. If you do not receive this, you should contact your local election authority to ensure you are included among registered voters in Missouri.
Voting on Election Day
As part of our Missouri voters guide, we want you to know your rights and why you should vote before you head to the polls. Federal laws, including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (VAEHA), protect people with disabilities from discriminatory voting issues at the polls.
By law, U.S. voters with disabilities are entitled to:
Accessible polling places
Procedures that do not discriminate based on a disability
Accessible and operational voting systems
Service animals within the polling place
Vote privately and independently or with assistance
Assistance from the person of your choice, including a friend, family member or poll worker
However, our Missouri voters guide also considers the specifics of state law. Voters in Missouri are entitled to:
View written instructions
Receive further instructions from election judges
View a sample ballot before voting
Receive a replacement ballot
Cast a vote even if you are in line around closing time
Vote by provisional ballot if you are a registered voter without an ID or if your name is not on the precinct register and the election authority cannot clarify your registration status
Get verification that the choices you made on the screen match the attached voter-verifiable paper audit trail
Although some voters may not be familiar with accessible voting systems, device demonstrations are available online to help you learn how to avoid voting issues on Election Day.
Voting Through the Mail
As part of our Missouri voters guide, we account for alternative voting methods. Voters in Missouri who meet outlined requirements — such as being unable to travel to a polling place due to illness or physical disability — may be able to vote at home through an absentee ballot.
Missouri law states that registered voters with a permanent disability be allowed to join the “Permanently Disabled Voting List.” To join the list, you must contact your local election authority six weeks before the election. Once placed on the list, you will automatically receive an absentee ballot in the mail for every election.
Though the voting list deadline has passed, you can still request an absentee ballot for this upcoming election by printing the Request for Missouri Absentee Ballot form and submitting it to your local election authority. The application deadlines for voters in Missouri are as follows:
In Person: Received by 5 p.m. on the day before Election Day.
By Mail: Received by 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday before Election Day.
To avoid voting issues, all absentee ballots must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Filing a Grievance
Unfortunately, preparation through our Missouri voters guide may not protect you from an unpleasant or unaccommodating experience at the polls. If you believe you’ve experienced discrimination at the polls, you can file a grievance with the Secretary of State’s office within 30 days of the incident.
For example, some grievances voters in Missouri may experience are:
Inaccessible entrances
Lack of curbside voting options
Communication barriers
Refusal to provide reasonable accommodations
Grievances are typically submitted by word or in writing, but alternative means of filing will be made available upon request. From there, ADA coordinators will contact you to discuss your voting issues, offer resolutions and give you a chance to appeal if you do not reach a positive resolution.
Paraquad Goes Beyond the Missouri Voters Guide
Paraquad created this Missouri voters guide because the ability to vote is fundamental to our democracy. All people, regardless of ability, deserve to play a part in the decisions that drive our country. That’s why you should vote — to influence policies that impact you.
Paraquads’ Public Policy and Advocacy Team is dedicated to sharing information regarding voters in Missouri and advocating for change in public policies. If you’re interested in learning more about disability voting rights or our legislative priorities for the year, contact our team at 314-289-4200.
