North Carolina Resources for Voters with Disabilities

U.S. Vote Foundation's North Carolina Voters with Disabilities Guide provides valuable resources including information on accessible voting options, voter rights, and guidance on the voting process. This essential North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

In North Carolina, you have the right to the following items as protected by federal law and election staff must be trained to understand 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,
  • Accompaniment by your service animal inside your polling place,
  • Assistance from a person of your choice except your boss or union official

According to the Disability Rights North Carolina, voters in North Carolina also have the right to:

  • Vote privately and independently
  • Vote even if you have a guardian
  • Bring someone with you to help you vote or ask a poll worker to help you
  • Access assistive technology you need to cast your vote
  • Vote without proving your capacity to do so
  • Communicate who you are and where you live to the poll workers verbally or by writing it down or with assistance
  • Vote without coercion
  • Poll workers trained to understand the above rights
What are the rules of assistance for voters with a disability in North Carolina?
  • If you are physically disabled, print disabled, or have literacy issues, then you can receive help from anyone who is not your employer or works for your labor union
  • Your helper can't record what happens in the voting booth or tell anyone how you voted
  • You cannot be forced to accept assistance from a poll worker
  • Poll workers cannot attempt to persuade you to vote for or against:
    • a candidate
    • a ballot question
How is the North Carolina mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?

If you have a print disability, you can request an accessible absentee ballot. 

  • In your application for an absentee ballot, select the box stating that you have a print disability and require an accessible ballot
  • This ballot will be compatible with screen readers and you can use a digital or typed signature
  • You will need two witnesses when you mark your ballot (but you have the right to keep your ballot choices private so they should not be so close as to see how you voted)
  • If you need assistance, one of your witnesses is allowed to help you
  • You, your witnesses, and your helper will sign your ballot
  • You can practice using this type of accessible ballot using a demo ballot.

If you are unable to use the electronic accessible online portal, you can request an alternative ballot through your ADA coordinator.

If you are residing in a facility such as a nursing home, hospital or clinic, you can get help with all aspects of absentee voting from a Multipartisan Assistance Team (MAT). Contact your county board of elections to set this up.

What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in North Carolina?

Voting systems used in North Carolina must be accessible to persons with disabilities.

  • The three different types of accessible voting machines that are used in NC are AutoMARK, Express Vote, and Verity Touch Writer.

You can vote “curbside” if you are disabled or find it difficult to enter and exit the polling place. This means a poll worker will bring a ballot to your car and will return it for you once completed.

  • There will be signs to direct you to where you can park for curbside voting
  • You will sign an affidavit saying that you are unable to enter the polling place
  • Some polling places have walk-up curbside voting available
  • Curbside voters have the same rights as other voters
How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in North Carolina prior to Election Day?
Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in North Carolina?

If you feel your rights have been violated, you can:

  • Contact Disability Rights North Carolina with questions and concerns about accessible voting
  • Complete the form at Disability Rights North Carolina or call 919-856-2195,
     
  • Send a form to your ADA Coordinator containing your name, address, phone number and email address. Include information about the alleged discrimination such as the location, date, and description of the incident,
    • Send the complaint to Allison Blackman, ADA Coordinator:
    • You can request to send in a tape recording or interview if a written complaint is not possible due to your disability,
    • You need to send the complaint no later than 60 days after the alleged violation.
       
  • Contact the NC State Board of Elections with suggestions about how to make voting more accessible by calling (866) 522-4723 (toll-free) or (919) 814-0700 or emailing them at [email protected].

You can alternatively 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

Contact the National Network of ADA Centers for local contact information of other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources.

Helpful Quick Links
State-specific Resources Guide for Voters With Disabilities
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