SUPPORT SB 829 TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE VOTE BY MAIL

Unlike Illinois voters without disabilities, Illinois voters who are blind, have low vision or have other print disabilities who wish to vote by mail are denied the ability to vote privately and independently.  They are required to receive a paper ballot in the mail and mark, sign and return that paper ballot to the local election authority.  To do so, they must ask a person without disabilities for assistance in completing and submitting their ballots.  SB 829 will help address this inequity by allowing voters with print disabilities to electronically receive, mark and verify their vote by mail ballots using assistive technology.

The federal Help America Vote Act (“HAVA”), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act make clear that individuals with disabilities must be afforded an opportunity to exercise their right to vote that is equal to that afforded to voters without disabilities, including the ability to vote privately and independently.  Other states have successfully allowed vote by mail ballots to be electronically transmitted, marked, and verified for years.  It is time for Illinois to take this step forward.

ACT NOW: SB 829 IS SCHEDULED FOR HEARING IN THE HOUSE ETHICS & ELECTIONS COMMITTEE TOMORROW (4-6-22) AT 10:30 A.M.

PLEASE FILE AN ELECTRONIC WITNESS SLIP IN SUPPORT OF SB 829 ASAP AND URGE OTHERS TO DO SO, TOO!

To file a witness slip for SB 829: Click

After filling in your identifying information, mark your Position as “Proponent”. 

For Testimony, mark the box that says “Record of Appearance Only”

Thank You for Your Support!

Cheryl R. Jansen, Public Policy Director, Equip for Equality, cherylj2@equipforequality.org