New Jersey Resources for Voters with Disabilities

U.S. Vote Foundation's New Jersey Voters with Disabilities Guide provides valuable resources including information on accessible voting options, voter rights, and guidance on the voting process. This essential New Jersey guide empowers individuals to exercise their right to vote in a private, independent, and accessible way.

What are my rights as a voter with a disability in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, you have the right to the following as protected by federal law. Election staff must respect these rights:

  • Accessible voter registration
  • Accessible polling places
  • Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
  • Accessible, available, and operational voting systems, features
  • Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
  • The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
  • Assistance from a person of choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent, or a candidate unless this person is your family member)
  • Election Staff trained to understand the rights above.

 

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot. You can return your ballot by mail, secure drop box, or in-person at your Board of Elections office.

The Application is available in English on our website with a step-by-step process, and also available here in Spanish. (Scroll down to your county and select the Spanish version of their mail-in ballot application.) Any voter can apply for a mail-in absentee ballot.

 

Federal law requires assistance in registering to vote from offices that provide public assistance or state-funded programs serving people with disabilities. Responsibilities include:

  • Providing voter registration forms
  • Assisting voters in completing the forms
  • Transmitting completed forms to the appropriate election official
  • All aspects of voter registration must be accessible
What are the rules of assistance for disabled voters in New Jersey?
  • You may request assistance from a poll worker or receive assistance from a person of your choice with the following exceptions:  
    • your employer, an agent of your employer
    • an officer or agent of your union
       
  • A poll worker cannot force you to accept assistance.
How is the New Jersey mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?
  • You can request a mail-in ballot to be mailed to you for every election until you tell them to stop on your mail-in voting application.
     
  • You can have a family member or someone who is registered to vote in your county retrieve your ballot for you from the County Clerk’s office. 
    • You need to indicate their name on the bottom of your application.
    • They cannot assist more than three voters, unless they are helping up to five family members who all reside in the same house.
    • They cannot be a candidate on the ballot.
       
  • You can also have someone return your ballot for you to the Board of Elections office. 
    • Your helper must sign the return envelope. 
    • They cannot assist more than three voters unless they are helping out five family members who all reside in the same house. 
    • They cannot be a candidate on the ballot.
What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in New Jersey?

Federal law requires polling places to meet minimum compliance standards for individuals with special needs. 

If you are unable to stand in line, you can:

  • Request to be moved to the front of the line or refuse to be moved to the front of the line
  • Request that a chair be provided or refuse to accept a chair
  • Request to have your place in line held and notified when it is your turn

An accessible ballot marking device should be available at all polling places for you to vote privately and independently.

How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in New Jersey prior to Election Day?

You have the right to access a sample ballot.  Sample ballots can be found provided by your Local Election Office both in-person and online.

Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in New Jersey?

You can fill-out and submit online a Complaint Form to the New Jersey Secretary of State. This form is used for complaints regarding in-person voting.

You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:

  • Online, through the form’s submission process - this is the fastest method.
  • By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints" at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
  • By mailing your form to: 
         U.S. Department of Justice
         Office of the Inspector General
         Investigations Division
         ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
         950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
         Washington, DC 20530

For assistance with advocacy, protection of your voting rights, and other services, you may contact Disability Rights New Jersey.

For additional assistance, The National Network of ADA Centers can provide local contact information for other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources.