Texans with Disabilities KNOW YOUR VOTING RIGHTS!
Accessibility – State law requires all polling places meet strict accessibility standards.
Private Ballot – It is your right to cast a private and independent ballot.
Voting Assistance – You have the right to assistance—from any person you choose—when registering to vote or when voting if you can not read or mark the ballot or application. You have the right to an interpreter. It is illegal for the person assisting you to try and influence your vote.
Vote By Mail – If you requested a mail in ballot you must return in by 7:00 on Election Day.
Vote Early – You can vote early in person. During Early Voting you can vote at any polling place in your county. Early voting starts October 22nd and ends November 2nd.
Election Day – November 6th is Election Day. The polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling location or your vote will not count.
Curbside Voting – If you are physically unable to enter a polling place or to stand in line to vote you can ask an election official to bring your ballot to your car or the entrance of the polling place. This applies to early voting and Election Day.
Voter Registration – People with disabilities have the right to register to vote. Many people who have guardians do not know that they have the right to vote. They do have that right unless a judge specifically states that a the person under a guardianship cannot vote.
If you have questions about your voting rights —or to report a violation— contact Advocacy, Inc.
Toll-free: 1-888-796-VOTE
or 1-800-252-9108 (V/TTY)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.advocacyinc.org
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NEWS RELEASE
1-888-796-VOTE: Toll-free Hotline for Texas Voters with Disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUSTIN, TX — Texans with disabilities who plan to vote in the upcoming elections have a new ally in assuring full and equal access to the voting process. With a grant from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), Advocacy, Inc. is sponsoring a toll-free hotline for voters with disabilities who have difficulty accessing polling places or casting ballots. People with disabilities who have general questions about the voting process are also welcome to call the hotline. The hotline is equipped to receive voice and TTY calls. The toll-free number is 1-888-796-VOTE (1-888-796-8683).
Advocacy, Inc. is the federally funded and authorized Protection and Advocacy System (P&A) for people with disabilities in Texas. In addition to assisting voters in this election, hotline workers will use information collected from callers to document discrimination and access problems at polling places throughout Texas. “The Help America Vote Act has made the election system more accessible, but people with disabilities still face barriers at the polls,†says Jeff Tate, Advocacy, Inc.’s Policy Services Manager.
After passage of the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Congress allocated sufficient funds for the P&A in each state and U.S. Territory to receive a four-year grant. The funds are administered by the federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD).
Download flyer: (pdf format)
Click to access Nov62007Election.pdf
Sharing information only. For more specifics, contact Jeff at Advocacy, Inc. ([email protected])