Accessible Voting

Accessible absentee voting

New York State offers an accessible absentee option to allow voters to use assistive technology to read and mark the ballot electronically. You must print your marked ballot and return it in an envelope by mail or in person at an approved dropoff location.

You can apply for an accessible absentee ballot using New York State’s online Accessible Absentee Ballot Application Portal: https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/home/accessible

You can also request this service by calling (315) 798-5765 or emailing BoardofElections@ocgov.net.

Printing and returning your accessible ballot

You must print your marked ballot and return it by mail (using the postage paid return envelope we will send you) or in person at the Oneida County Board of Elections, at any early voting site in the county, or at any poll site.

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores.  Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered. 

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system can also print their absentee ballots at the Oneida County Board of Elections office.

All voters utilizing the Electronic Accessible Ballot Delivery System will be provided with a return envelope that includes a tactile mark indicating where the voter must sign. Voters requesting an accessible absentee ballot will continue to have the option to print their own oath envelope using the Board provided template and instructions.

Accessible voting locations

Voting locations must be made accessible for all people, regardless of ability. Under New York State and Federal law, all voters must be given the same opportunity for access and participation in the voting process.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) protect the right of people with disabilities to vote. These laws require that:

• Voting is private and independent
• Every voting location has an accessible voting machine
• Every voting location has accessible parking
• Voting locations have an accessible entrance and an accessible route to the entrance
• Voting locations provide an accessible route to the voting area
• Voting locations offer accessible voting procedures 
• People who are blind or low vision get the help they need

Election workers are trained to work with voters with disabilities and to make the voting process accessible.

Accessible voting machines

Every voting location is required to have a voting machine with an ADA-compliant Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”). These machines include features like audio ballots, large print/zoom features, and height and tilt adjustments on the screens.

If you want to vote in-person during early voting or on Election Day, you can vote using the “BMD”.

Please let the election workers know if you have questions or need assistance with the voting machine.

Casting your ballot

You’ll find instructions for marking and casting your ballot posted in each voting location. If you have any questions about how to mark or cast your ballot, or if you have incorrectly marked a ballot, contact an election worker for instructions.

Assistance at the voting location

If you need assistance, you may bring someone with you to help you vote, or you may ask for help from an election worker. Anyone is permitted to help you vote except for your employer, an agent or your employer, or an agent of your union. The person who helps you vote is prohibited from influencing your selections and cannot tell others how you voted.

If you do not bring someone to help you vote, a team of election workers can assist you.

Signing election documents

If you can’t sign your name, you can mark an “X” or any other mark on the signature line.

The person helping you must sign the oath envelope and list their address in the provided space.