Voters with Disabilities
If you’re a registered voter whose polling place is not easily accessible, you have the right to bring a person of your choosing to the poll to assist you, provided that person is not a Judge of Elections or your employer or union representative. If you require the assistance of another, fill out a Declaration of Need of Assistance form and submit it to your County Board of Elections office.
Additionally, if you’re a registered voter who is disabled or over the age of 65 and is assigned to a polling places that is inaccessible, you also have the right to vote by alternative ballot.
Those with permanent disabilities may apply for a permanent absentee ballot through the Department of State here.
Voters with disabilities who have a problem at their polling place can call Disability Rights Pennsylvania’s (DRP) Election Day Hotline between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Election Day at 717-839-5227.
Language Access
If you are unable to read or write, you have the right to bring a person of your choosing to the poll to assist you, provided that person is not a Judge of Elections or your employer or union representative.
In Philadelphia County, all voting material must be made available in both English and Spanish. Some Election Boards will also have a cell phone available for voters who may need to use a telephone service providing assistance in 173 languages. However, even if your division's Election Board does not have a cell phone, this service may be accessed from any phone. Some polls will also have interpreters to assist voters.
The PA Department of State and Philadelphia County Board of Elections both include Spanish versions of their voter websites. Click here to download the City Commissioners' Voter Education Handbook in Spanish. Click here for a list of support hotlines for Limited English Proficiency voters.
Bilingual Voter Protection Hotlines
Have questions or need help voting? Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683). Bilingual assistance is available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tagalog. This service is provided by Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC).
Bilingual assistance in Spanish is available at 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682), a service provided by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.