Voters with Disabilities

San Juan County Disability Advisory Committee

Are you looking for a way to serve your community?  San Juan County Elections is looking for persons with disabilities, and providers of services to persons with disabilities, to serve on the Disability Advisory Committee. 

Washington State Law requires every county to have a Disability Advisory Committee. The committee must include persons with disabilities, and may include any interested person.  One purpose of the Disability Advisory Committee is to provide input to the county elections department regarding accommodations to ensure equal access to voters with disabilities.  The objective is to ensure that all voters are able to vote independently and privately.

San Juan County’s Disability Advisory Committee has assisted in the past by testing access for wheelchairs and making recommendations for improvement.  It has also tested the County’s Accessible Voting Unit (AVU) and reviewed the County’s accessibility plan.

If you are interested, please contact the San Juan County Elections office at (360) 378-3357 or elections@sanjuanco.com.

Voter's with Disabilities

As a voter with a disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation or assistance to vote. The Office of the Secretary of State is committed to ensuring accessibility at voting centers, and that you have the opportunity to vote privately and independently.

Voting centers must meet all of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. View the  ADA checklist for voting centers for more information.

To request a reasonable accommodation or assistance, contact your county elections department. 

Accessible Voters’ Pamphlet

Accessible formats of the voters' pamphlet are available online. If you wish to join the subscription list to receive a copy on CD or USB drive of the Voters' Pamphlet, please contact the voter hotline at (800) 448-4881 or email Voter's Pamphlet. Provide your preferred format, name, telephone number, and mailing address.

Accessible Voting Units

Accessible voting units (AVUs) are available starting 18 days before Election Day, until 8 p.m. on Election Day. For specific dates that AVU voting is available at your county elections department, see voter Dates and Deadlines. Every county must have at least one AVU at each voting center. AVUs must be wheelchair-accessible and screened from other voters to maintain privacy.  
  
An AVU presents your ballot on a monitor. You select choices by using a select wheel, or by using a tool. You can use headphones to listen to the text and prompts on your ballot. Most machines can also be fitted with sip-and- puff tools.  MORE>>

Assistance voting your ballot

Anyone may assist you in voting your ballot. At a voting center, you may ask for two election workers – one from each political party – to help you fill out your ballot.
 
A person who has a guardian may still be able to vote and should not be turned away from a voting center by an election worker. Guardianship papers indicate if an individual has the right to vote. If there is ever doubt about a person’s voting status, the person should be issued a provisional ballot to vote with. MORE>>
 
Accessibility Concerns

If you are concerned about the accessibility of a voting center, contact your county elections department or contact the Office of the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (800) 448- 4881.

Additional information for voters with disabilities

Accessibility services and information

Accessibility in your county

  • ADA checklist for voting centers
  • Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) by county
  • County Elections Departments Disability Advisory Committees
    • Disability Advisory Committees are made up of people with disabilities, disability community advocates, and service providers. The committees provide county elections departments with input regarding reasonable accommodations that help ensure equal access so that all registered voters can vote independently and privately (RCW 29A.04.223). If you are interested in joining your local Disability Advisory Committee, please contact your county elections department.

Accessibility Other accessibility resources