Voters with Disabilities

Massachusetts has implemented an Accessible Electronic Voting System as the result of the VOTES act. Plymouth voters may now request, receive, complete, and return their ballot electronically for any election, by using a secure web portal if they are unable to mark a paper ballot because of a disability.

The Accessible Electronic Voting System is available to voters who are unable to independently read, write, hold, or physically manipulate or mark ballots. This could be due to:

  • blindness or vision impairments
  • mobility or dexterity disabilities, or
  • other disabilities that make it difficult or impossible to effectively access a paper Vote by Mail ballot.

The Accessible Electronic Voting system allows voters to independently and privately submit their ballot via a secure electronic delivery system. This system is compatible with screen readers. To access it, you must first submit a Vote by Mail application to the Town Clerk's office online, in-person or via mail. The deadline to request a vote by mail ballot is five (5) days before an election.

Please note: To get access to the electronic ballot, you will need to provide your email address.

AutoMarks

Additionally as of 2007, Plymouth has AutoMark voting machines at each polling location, which will mark the ballot for the voter. Some of the features of the new machines are:

  • High contrast
  • Braille keypad
  • A sip/puff tube for voters who are not able to use the touch screen or touchpad.
  • An audio function to allow voters with impaired vision to listen to choices.
  • A zoom feature that enables the voter to increase the font size of each race listed on the optical scan ballot.

Anyone who is unable to vote at their polling location due to a permanent disability may file a letter from their doctor stating that they are permanently disabled and unable to vote at the polls. The Clerk's Office will then automatically send out a vote by mail ballot application every January for the voter to sign and return.

If a voter is unable to mark the ballot, they may have someone mark the ballot for them. The helper must print his or her name and the voter's name on the brown envelope, write the reason help was needed, and sign his or her name as the assisting person.