Voting assistance available for those with disabilities

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – One organization in western Massachusetts is advocating for disability voting rights.

The governor declared this week “Voting Rights Week” and Stavros Center is working to educate voters with disabilities about their voting rights. They held a voters registration event to inform people of their rights, show them how to register to vote, and how to request a mail-in ballot if they aren’t able to make it to the polls in person.

They want to make sure that people who may be in a nursing home or other institutions know that even though they may not be able to go vote in person, they don’t lose their right.

“Many people don’t know that they can request accessibility measures when they go in person. For example, if they are blind, they can do an auto-mark machine that is there and they also can ask for help when they are in the booth,” said Stavros CEO Angelina Ramirez.

A voter who needs assistance can also have someone help them when filling out the ballot. She said it can get confusing with the different laws in Massachusetts as to what assistance you can receive, but Stavros is there to help you determine the help you can get.

Ramirez also said some people who move into an institution out of their district don’t realize that they can request a mail-in ballot and still be able to vote. Since they are educating those with disabilities, most of the work they do is at nursing homes and other centers, going to them to help them advocate for their rights.

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