Voting Tips for People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

Voting Tips for People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

a product of the TBI Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (view the full fact sheet)

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may experience challenges in voting due to a range of impairments in physical, hearing, vision, communication, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral function. Obstacles may include registering to vote, remembering to vote, accessing transportation, physically navigating the polling place, understanding ballot design, and utilizing technologies for voting. All that on top of deciding who to vote for! The information here is intended to help people with brain injury overcome such obstacles.

Why Vote?

• Voting gives you a voice in what happens in your city, county, state, and country.
• People with disabilities, including TBI, vote less often than people without disabilities. When this happens, people with disabilities have less of a voice.
• Your vote matters. If you do not vote, you are letting other people make decisions for you. Some of these decisions may affect your rights and access to health care, employment, and other services and opportunities.
• Voting is a privilege and a responsibility that is part of being a United States citizen.

What Are Your Rights?

• You have the right to vote.
• You have the right to ask for help with voting.
• You have the right to bring a friend or family member with you to help you vote.
• You have the right to have accommodations to help you vote.
• You have the right to ask a poll worker to explain how to use the voting machine.
• You have the right to ask for a voting machine you can reach.
• You have the right to ask for a seat while you are waiting to vote.
• You have the right to take your time while voting.
• You have the right to use curbside voting.
• You have the right to be treated with respect.
• You have the right to speak up for yourself.

What About Voting and the Coronavirus Pandemic?

• If you vote at the polling place, bring a mask, hand sanitizer, and remember to social distance.

Where Can I Get More Information?

• National Disability Rights Network https://www.ndrn.org/issues/voting/ 
• American Association of People with Disabilities Voter Resource Center: https://www.aapd.com/advocacy/voting/voter-resource-center/ 
• U.S. Vote Foundation online portal for registration, absentee ballots, election dates, and other information: https://www.usvotefoundation.org/ 
• Election Protection coalition:
• Toll-free at 866-687-8683 or online at www.866ourvote.org 
• USA gov:
  • How to Register to Vote: www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
  • Voting and Elections: www.usa.gov/voting
• Guide to Informed Voting: https://www.aascu.org/programs/ADP/VotingResources/InformedVoting.pdf 
• U.S. Election Assistance Commission:
  • Resources for Voters with Disabilities: https://www.eac.gov/voters/resources-for-voters-with-disabilities/ 
  • Voter’s Guide to Federal Elections: https://www.eac.gov/voters/voters-guide-to-federal-elections/
    
    

Learn more about your voting rights and responsibilities by viewing this PDF Voting Tips for People Living With Traumatic Brain Injury which was developed by Flora M. Hammond, MD, FACRM; Mark A. Hirsch, PhD, FACRM; Christine S. Davis, PhD; Julia Nelson Snow, MA; Martha Kropf, and Jason Karlawish, in collaboration with the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.