FY27 Budget Advocacy

MA Secretary of State: 

Mass Voters Bill of Rights 

Where, When, and How Do I Vote

Find My Election Information 

Registering to Vote

Vote By Mail

Run for Office or File a Petition 

Massachusetts State Law – Voters’ Bill of Rights

State protections for voters with disabilities (Massachusetts):

These rights are guaranteed to every qualified registered voter, including those with disabilities:

Right to vote if you are disabled

• Polling places must be accessible.

• There must be at least one accessible voting booth.
  
  

Right to assistance when voting

• You may request help from anyone of your choice.

• If you don’t bring someone, two poll workers must assist you.

Right to absentee ballot due to physical disability

• If a disability prevents you from voting at the polling place, you can vote by absentee ballot.
  
  

Federal Law – Disability Voting Protections

Federal civil rights laws further protect voters with disabilities:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• Polling place site selection and physical access are covered.

• Voting websites and election information must be accessible.

• States cannot automatically disqualify people from voting due to intellectual disability or guardianship status.

• Requires states and localities to provide equal access for people with disabilities to all aspects of the voting process — registration, polling sites, and ballot casting.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

Every polling place must have at least one accessible voting system that allows people with disabilities to vote privately and independently.

• Funding and training requirements help improve accessibility.

• Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (VAEHA)

• Requires that voter registration and polling places be physically accessible in federal elections.

• If no accessible place exists, alternate means must be provided so a disabled voter can still vote on Election Day.
  
  

Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Section 208)

• Ensures people with disabilities (including those blind or with literacy challenges) can receive assistance from a person of their choice when voting.

• Limits on who may assist (e.g., not employer agents).