#AdvocacyMatters: Attacking Election Accessibility

April 3, 2026 / #AdvocacyMatters

Free and fair access for all citizens to participate in elections is more than just a right, it's a critical component of disability rights and other civil rights movements. From accessible polling places and curbside voting to early voting and casting ballots by mail, our current election process offers safe and secure options to ensure the votes of all Americans are counted, regardless of disability.

In February we shared information about three pieces of legislation known as the "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act," the "Save America Act," and the "Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act." These bills aim to limit vote by mail, limit those who can help voters with disabilities, and require additional and sometimes hard-to-get documents like passports or birth certificates to vote.

Earlier this week, attacks on accessible voting continued. On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections." This executive order makes voting by mail more difficult and restricts who can vote by mail.

"If any aspects of this EO go into effect, voters with disabilities and other marginalized communities will be disproportionately harmed. Already, disabled voters face increased challenges in accessing their right to vote because of policies and practices that make voting difficult," the American Association of People with Disabilities shared in a statement.

"For many people with disabilities, voting by mail is the only way they can participate in elections. An attack on vote by mail is an attack on disabled voters."

"The ability to participate in elections and other forms of civic engagement is a foundational part of the equity we're fighting for," said Kerstin Sjoberg, DRO President & CEO. "Efforts to silence the voices of the millions of Americans with disabilities under the guise of election security cannot be allowed."

Despite these new barriers and confusion, our elections carry on as normal. Ohio's May Primary Election is just about a month away. The deadline to register to vote in this election is this Monday, April 6th. You can learn more about registering to vote and all the different, accessible ways to participate in Ohio's elections at disabilityrightsohio.org/vote.

On Election Day, our Voter Hotline will be available to help answer your questions! You can reach our experts on Tuesday, May 5th from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day at 614-466-7264 or 1-800-282-9181 (toll-free).

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