Q: ARE POLLING PLACES REQUIRED TO BE ACCESSIBLE?

Your polling place is required to be accessible. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: I HAVE ACCESSIBILITY PROBLEMS AT MY POLLING PLACE WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

First, call the Election Protection Hotline:
English: (1-866-687-8683)
Español: (1-888-839-8682)
Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, and Tagalog: (1-888-274-8683)
Arabic: (1-844-925-5287)
Any Language: Text “Our Vote” to: 97779

Second, call the Georgia Advocacy Office at (800) 537-2329 
Source: https://faq.georgiavoter.guide/en/article/voters-with-disabilities

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Q:  ARE THE MACHINES WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE? 

Yes! Every polling place in Georgia should be equipped with at least one touch screen voting machine that will allow a voter to vote while sitting in a chair or wheelchair. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

 

Q: WHAT ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE VOTERS THAT ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED? 

Georgia's voting machines have a large print mode for visually impaired voters. There is also an audio ballot for blind voters. Blind voters are given a pair of headphones and a number keypad. A voter will hear the names of candidates and ballot measures through the headphones and then the voter responds to prompts by touching the keypad. The process is similar to an automated phone service.  

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE MY CELL PHONE AS AN ASSISTIVE DEVICE TO VOTE? 

Yes, if you are visually impaired, you can use an app on your phone to read your ballot to you before you cast it. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR VOTERS THAT ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING? 

Voters may navigate their ballot using Audio Mode. In Audio Mode, the visual display can be masked, and the voter uses headphones to navigate an audio ballot using one of the available accessibility devices. The devices include The Audio Tactile Interface (ATI) is the handheld device that is used by a voter during an Accessible Voting Session to navigate through and make selections to their ballot. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

 

Q: CAN I GET ASSISTANCE AT THE POLLS? 

You can get help voting if you are unable to sign your name, unable to see or mark the ballot, operate the voting equipment, or enter the voting booth without assistance. When you arrive, you must give the poll worker the name of the person assisting you or write it on your voter certificate. 

You can choose anyone to help you except: 

• your employer or agent of your employer, 

• an officer or agent of your union 

• anyone whose name appears on the ballot as a candidate 

• A candidate’s spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

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Q: DO I HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?

On Election Day polling places in Georgia are open from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 pm. 

if you have a disability and show up at the polling place between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., you will not be required to wait in line. Tell a poll officer you want to move to the front of the line. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: I DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE THE VOTING MACHINES OR BALLOTS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You can get help voting if you are unable to sign your name, unable to see or mark the ballot, operate the voting equipment, or enter the voting booth without assistance. When you arrive, you must give the poll worker the name of the person assisting you or write it on your voter certificate. You can choose anyone to help you except: 

• your employer or agent of your employer

• an officer or agent of your union 

• anyone whose name appears on the ballot as a candidate 

• A candidate’s spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN PRIVACY EVEN IF I NEED ASSISTANCE? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you, before or after entering the voting booth, ask for instructions concerning the manner of voting, a poll officer may give you the instructions; but no person giving you instructions is authorized in any manner to request, suggest, or seek to persuade or induce you to vote any particular ticket or for any particular candidate or for or against any particular question. After giving you the instructions and before you close the booth or vote, the poll officer is required to leave the booth where you are voting and you must immediately vote. A poll worker may assist you with inserting a Voter Access Card, bringing up the instruction screen, and review instructions with the voter, but must leave the booth when you touch the “START” button.  

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: THE POLLS ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE, AND I JUST GOT IN THE LINE. A POLL WORKER OR SOMEONE PRETENDING TO BE A POLL WORKER IS TELLING ME TO GO HOME. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Stay in line.  You have the right to vote if you are in line when the poll closes. You cannot be turned away because of a long line. If you are turned away, contact your local election officials immediately.

English:  (1-866-687-8683)
Español:(1-888-839-8682)
Chinese, Vietnamese/Korean/Bengali/Hindi/Urdu/Tagalog: (1-888-274-8683)
Arabic: (1-844-925-5287)

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

 

Q: THE POLLS DID NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AT THE TIME THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. WHAT DO I DO?

If possible, please take a picture or video of the locked door. This will establish a timestamp. Either way, please call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or text “Our Vote” to: 97779 to report the issue. 

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE VOTING MACHINE - WHAT DO I DO?

Immediately raise your hand and tell the Poll Supervisor what is happening. There should be some sort of an identifying number on your voting machine (example: “Voting Machine #1”) - please make sure you write down that identifying number or at least write down where in the room your machine was located, if at all.

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities

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Q: CAN I VOTE IN PRIVACY EVEN IF I NEED ASSISTANCE WITH SOME THINGS? 

Yes, after giving you instructions and before you close the booth or vote, the poll officer is required leave the booth where you are voting and you should immediately vote. A poll worker may assist you with inserting a Voter Access Card, bringing up the instruction screen, and review instructions with you, but must leave the booth when you touch the “START” button.

It is ILLEGAL for anyone to suggest/persuade you to vote for any particular ticket, issue, or candidate

Source: https://sos.ga.gov/page/voting-assistance-people-disabilities