How can I vote with a disability in Texas? Here are the accommodations you're entitled to

The 2024 election — it seems like the upcoming transition is on the lips of nearly every voting citizen. Texans are marking their calendars for Nov. 5, when they will vote for local, state and federal officials.

Voting is a civic duty, and has been foundational to America's democracy from the first U.S. presidential election in 1789 . Throughout the next 235 years, more groups of people have fought to secure the right to vote.

Despite citizenship rights granted by the Fourteenth Amendment (1868), and voting rights more explicitly by the Fifteenth Amendment (1870), African Americans faced institutional barriers to voting up to the 1965 Voting Rights Act . Even today, people of color continue to battle voter suppression .

Women were also denied the right to vote in America for decades. Several generations advocated for women's suffrage before the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920. To put it into perspective, prohibition (a period of 13 years during which the production, transportation and sale of alcohol was banned in the U.S.) began before women got the right to vote.

In many ways, U.S. voting rights have come a long way for several communities. However, people will disabilities are still met with challenges to voting, which often present as physical barriers. All qualifying Texans deserve the right to vote for leaders likely to directly influence their daily lives, and this includes Texans living with disabilities.

On Sept. 1, 1999, Texas was the first state to require all new voting systems to be accessible to those with physical disabilities. The Lone Star State continues its commitment to provide reasonable voting access to the disabled community.

So, how can you vote in Texas if you have a disability? Here's what you should know.

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

In 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) to improve voting systems and voter access — improvements that had been identified during the 2000 elections. HAVA created the Election Assistance Commission, which implemented new mandatory minimum standards for states to ensure a certain level of accessibility.

Under HAVA, states were expected to introduce the following:

• provisional voting
• voting information
• updated and upgraded voting equipment
• statewide voter registration databases
• voter identification procedures
• administrative complaint procedures

LIST: Voting options for people with disabilities

Federal laws like HAVA and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect the voting rights of citizens with disabilities. People with disabilities have the right to vote privately, without help, at an accessible polling place with voting machines. They also have the option to request assistance from poll workers to use accessible voting machines or bring someone to help.

To ensure the privacy and freedom of the person with a disability, the assisting person cannot be an employer, agent of an employer, or officer or agent of a union. It is also illegal for this person to try to influence a vote, mark the ballot in any way other than how the voter intended, or tell anyone how the voter voted. An assistant can also be an interpreter if the voter does not speak English or communicates in sign language. Individuals may contact their local election officials prior to the election to request an interpreter.

Polling places also have the following physical accessibility requirements:

• wheelchair-accessible voting booths
• entrances and doorways at least 32 inches wide
• handrails on all stairs
• voting equipment for people who are blind or visually impaired

Texans with disabilities are entitled to additional voting accommodations, as described below.

Early voting and voting by mail

In-person early voting typically begins the 17th day before Election Day and ends the 4th day before Election Day. All other procedures apply, such as eligibility and polling hours.

The option of voting by mail is available to elderly persons and persons with physical disabilities. To receive a ballot by mail, Texans must mail an application to be received at least 11 days before the desired election. Voting by mail requires one of the following forms of identification:

• Texas Driver's License
• Texas Personal Identification Number or Election Identification Certificate Number, as issued by the Department of Public Safety ( not a voter registration VUID number)
• The last four digits of a Social Security Number (SSN)

Curbside voting

Each polling place in Texas must offer curbside voting with a clearly marked reserved parking space, along with a sign displaying a phone number voters can call or text to request assistance from an election officer. The officer will then meet the voter either at the entrance to the polling place or at the designated parking space with a ballot. The voter can then mark the ballot and return it to the election officer to put in the ballot box, or request a companion to deposit it.

Some curbside locations may also provide a button or an intercom to request assistance. This option is generally available during the early voting period and on Election Day.

Click here to find more information about voting in Texas with a disability.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How can I vote with a disability in Texas? Here are the accommodations you're entitled to