The Era of Easier Voting for Disabled People Is Over

It’s long been difficult for Americans with disabilities to vote. Inaccessible paths are an obstacle to people who use wheelchairs. Long lines are a huge hurdle to people with chronic pain. Voting machines without audio or large-print ballots are an impediment to those who are blind or who have low vision. But last year, something different happened: As states passed pandemic-driven reforms to make voting easier for everyone, they inadvertently made voting a lot easier for most people with disabilities.

And vote, they did. Nearly , a over 2016, or 1.7 million more voters. The number of disabled Election Assistance Commission report. That’s not to say voting was suddenly simple: Mail-in ballots , including those with visual or cognitive disabilities. And in 2020, disabled Americans were still roughly . But the changes made a real difference.