GAO firmly believes that voting is a civil right that belongs to everyone. People with disabilities have the right to vote privately, independently, and without barriers. The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed in 2002, says that voting systems must be private and accessible for people with disabilities in every part of the process, including choosing candidates, reviewing selections, and casting a ballot. All voters should have access to vote independently or with the help of tools or people chosen by the voter.
Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO) administers the Protection and Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA) program. Through this program, we:
- Help people with disabilities understand their voting rights
- Provide education and training about accessible voting
- Investigate barriers to voting, like inaccessible polling places or problems with voting machines
- Work with election officials to improve voting access
- Advocate for changes to make the voting process more inclusive and equitable
To learn more about elections in Georgia, visit the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.
If you or someone you know has faced difficulty voting because of a disability contact GAO at 404-885-1234 or info@thegao.org.