Virginia Department of Elections Releases an Official ELECT Advisory
Due to a recent court order, Virginia is changing accessible voting. This federal court order allows voters with a print disability to use a ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology to case an absentee ballot in the November 2020 General and Special Elections.
How This Affects You: The court’s order requires General Registrars to allow voters who indicate they are blind or have low vision or impaired manual dexterity (“print disability”) to cast an absentee ballot using a ballot marking tool with screen reader assistive technology. The Department of Elections is making the necessary arrangements to utilize KNOWiNK’s myBallot solution to comply with the court’s order.
ELECT is amending the absentee ballot instructions as required by the court. Because of additional changes that will likely be required by the General Assembly and by a separate court order relating to witness signatures, the instructions are not yet complete and will be provided as soon as possible. ELECT will provide notice when the absentee instructions are finalized and ready for use.
Additional information regarding accessible voting can be found on the Department of Elections website. Also, voter registration is open until Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Register now.
CONTACT
Region 1 (Tidewater) Zakia Williams:
Zakia.Williams@elections.virginia.gov; (804) 864-8954
Regions 2 & 5 (South Central & Northern) Taylor Melton:
Taylor.Melton@elections.virginia.gov; (804) 593-2274
Regions 3 & 6 (North Central & Western) Keith Balmer:
Keith.Balmer@elections.virginia.gov; (804) 864-8908
Regions 4 & 7 (Southwest & Southern) Tanya Pruett:
Tanya.Pruett@elections.virginia.gov; (804) 864-8931
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