Voter Accessibility Laws

Voter accessibility laws ensure that people with disabilities or language barriers are able to vote.If you know you’ll need accommodations on Election Day, <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usa.gov/election-office">contact your state or local election office</a> to find out what to expect at your polling place. Please note: Many voters with disabilities rely on in-person voting at accessible polling places. Voters with language barriers often depend on the help of interpreters at the polls. Changes to polling places are possible due to the coronavirus. These may include different locations, layouts, procedures, and availability of translators.If you need to vote in person, <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usa.gov/election-day#item-37327">check your polling place</a> before Election Day. Find out about <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting#item-212898">early voting</a> options. And check with <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/eoddomestic.htm">local election officials</a> to learn:<ul><li style="margin-left: 40px;">If your needs will be met at your polling station</li><li style="margin-left: 40px;">Other ways you may be able to vote</li></ul><h3>Laws and Accommodations That Help Voters With Disabilities</h3>Several federal laws protect the voting rights of Americans with disabilities. These include the <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.ada.gov/ada_voting/ada_voting_ta.htm">Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)</a> and the <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eac.gov/about_the_eac/help_america_vote_act.aspx">Help America Vote Act (HAVA)</a>.Voters with disabilities have the right to:<ul><li>Vote in private, without help</li><li>Have an accessible polling place with voting machines for voters with disabilities</li></ul>Polling places must have:<ul><li>Wheelchair-accessible voting booths</li><li>Entrances and doorways at least 32 inches wide</li><li>Handrails on all stairs</li><li>Voting equipment for people who are blind or visually impaired</li></ul>If you have a disability, you may:<ul><li>Seek help from poll workers trained to use an accessible voting machine, or</li><li>Bring someone to help you vote</li></ul>You can also ask <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usa.gov/election-office">your election office</a> what other options you have.<ul><li>Some states offer “curbside voting," when a poll worker brings everything you need to vote to your car.</li><li>Some set up polling places at long-term care facilities.</li><li>Local organizations may provide transportation to the polls.</li><li>Many states let people with disabilities <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting#item-37337">vote by mail</a>.</li></ul><h3>Accommodations That Help Voters Who Need Language Assistance</h3>The <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eac.gov/">Election Assistance Commission (EAC)</a> helps people overcome language barriers to voting.<ul><li>The downloadable <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eac.gov/voters/voters-guide-to-federal-elections">Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections</a> is available in 11 languages. Find tips on everything from registering to vote to casting a ballot on Election Day.</li><li>The <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form">National Mail Voter Registration Form</a> is available in 15 languages. You can use it in most states to register and to update your voter registration information.</li></ul>Federal law also lets you bring someone to help you if you can't read or write.

Discrimination and Harassment at Your Job

The <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/">Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)</a> enforces <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/index.cfm">federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination</a>. These laws protect employees and job applicants against:<ul><li>Discrimination, harassment, and unfair treatment in the workplace by anyone because of:<ul><li>Race</li><li>Color</li><li>Religion</li><li>Sex (including gender identity, transgender status, and sexual orientation)</li><li>Pregnancy</li><li>National origin</li><li>Age (40 or older)</li><li>Disability</li><li>Genetic information</li></ul></li><li>Being denied reasonable workplace accommodations for disability or religious beliefs</li><li>Retaliation because they:<ul><li>Complained about job discrimination</li><li>Helped with an investigation or lawsuit</li></ul></li></ul><h3>Filing a Complaint with State or Local Government or Tribal Employment Rights Office</h3>To file a complaint, contact your <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/field/">state, local or tribal employment rights office</a>.Many state and local governments have their own anti-discrimination laws. These laws may offer extra protections beyond federal laws.Some state laws:<ul><li>Apply to businesses with only five or six employees</li><li>Prohibit discrimination based on whether you're married or have children</li><li>Have different deadlines for filing a charge</li><li>Have different standards for deciding whether you’re covered by them</li></ul>Many state laws have more protections for nursing mothers than federal law requires. <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.dol.gov/whd/contacts/state_of.htm">State labor offices</a> enforce these laws.<h3>Filing a Lawsuit</h3>If you're a victim of job discrimination or harassment, you can <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/employees/lawsuit.cfm">file a lawsuit</a>. If the discrimination violates federal law, you must first file a charge with the EEOC. (This doesn't apply to cases of unequal pay between men and women.)You may decide to sue if the EEOC can’t help you. In either case, look for an attorney who specializes in employment law. You can check with:<ul><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/field">Your EEOC field office</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/">American Bar Association</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/http://exchange.nela.org/network/findalawyer">National Employment Lawyers Association</a></li></ul><h3>Not All Employers Are Subject to EEOC Laws</h3><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/employees/coverage.cfm">An employer must have a certain number of employees to be covered by EEOC-enforced laws.</a> This number varies based on the type of employer and the kind of discrimination alleged.<ul><li>Businesses, state, and local governments must follow most EEOC laws if they have 15 or more employees.</li><li>Federal agencies must follow all EEOC laws, no matter how many employees they have.</li></ul><h3>Laws that the EEOC Enforces</h3>Federal employment discrimination laws include:<ul><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/ada.cfm">The Americans with Disabilities Act</a> (ADA) – prohibiting discrimination against workers with disabilities and mandating reasonable accommodations</li><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adea.cfm">The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967</a> (ADEA)</li><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/titlevii.cfm">Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964</a> (Title VII) – prohibiting discrimination based on:<ul><li>Race</li><li>Color</li><li>Religion</li><li>National origin</li><li>Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity). Learn more about <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/wysk/enforcement_protections_lgbt_workers.cfm">harassment and discrimination protections</a> for LGBTQ workers. These protections apply regardless of any contrary state or local laws.</li></ul></li><li><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/equalcompensation.cfm">The Equal Pay Act</a> (EPA) – requiring equal pay for equal work by men and women</li></ul><h3>Harassment</h3><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/harassment.cfm">Harassment</a> is unwelcome conduct based on:<ul><li>Race</li><li>Color</li><li>Religion</li><li>Sex</li><li>National origin</li><li>Age</li><li>Pregnancy</li><li>Disability</li><li>Genetic information</li></ul>It can include:<ul><li>Offensive jokes</li></ul><ul><li>Physical assaults or threats</li></ul><ul><li>Ridicule or insults</li></ul><ul><li>Display of offensive objects or pictures</li></ul><a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/sexual_harassment.cfm">Sexual harassment</a> may include:<ul><li>Unwelcome sexual advances</li><li>Requests for sexual favors</li><li>Other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature</li><li>Offensive remarks about a person's sex</li></ul>Harassment becomes illegal when:<ul><li>It creates a hostile or abusive work environment</li><li>The victim gets fired or demoted for refusing to put up with it</li></ul><h3>Protection from Retaliation</h3>EEOC laws protect employees and job applicants from <a href="https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20201218012701/https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/retaliation.cfm">retaliation</a>. For example, it’s unlawful to punish people for:<ul><li>Filing or being a witness in an EEO charge or investigation</li></ul><ul><li>Talking to a supervisor or manager about discrimination or harassment</li></ul><ul><li>Refusing to follow orders that would result in discrimination</li></ul><ul><li>Resisting sexual advances, or intervening to protect others</li></ul>

Your Legal Disability Rights

Know your rights under federal law. Read about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects people’s rights regarding employment, public accommodations, state and local government services, and more. Learn about special accommodations for voters and know how to fight job discrimination.