Voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and a hallmark of our democracy. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that provides protections to people with disabilities that are similar to protections provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion.
Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments (“public entities”) to ensure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The ADA’s provisions apply to all aspects of voting, including voter registration, site selection, and the casting of ballots, whether on Election Day or during an early voting in-person process.
Ellis County Elections provides the Election Systems and Software (ES&S) ExpressVote Voting System with ADA access that is available at all voting devices to serve voters who are blind, have limited vision, or limited dexterity that prevents them from marking the ballot without assistance. The Election Systems and Software voting system is ADA compliant and certified by the Texas Secretary of State for use in Texas.
There is a new law in Section 63.0013 of the Voting Rights Act known as Notice of Voting Order Priority that allows voters with mobility problems to be accepted for voting ahead of others in the line. Ask your voting clerk to move you to the front of the line if this will help you while in your polling site.
Curbside Voting:
If you are physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or the likelihood of injuring the voter’s health, you may vote curbside. When you arrive locate and park at the "Curbside Voting" Sign, for example click here. Some locations will also have a button that can be pressed to alert the election officer for curbside assistance. An election officer will qualify you and check you in for voting. Then they will bring an ExpressVote machine to you at the entrance of the polling place or to your car at curbside. After you mark the ballot on the ExpressVote machine, your ballot will print, you can verify your ballot selections, and then you can give the ballot to the election officer who will place it in the DS200 Tabulator Machine. Or at your request, a companion may deposit the ballot for you.
Tip: If you plan to go alone to vote curbside, it is wise to call ahead so election officials will expect you (972-825-5195 ext 2). You may vote curbside during the early voting period or on Election Day per the Election Code section 64.009.