The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in every area of public life, including voting
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A central Illinois woman is leading a national effort to ensure people living in long-term care facilities know about their voting rights. This comes as people with developmental disabilities frequently face barriers to voting.
I first met Carrie Leljedal in September 2020 when she was fighting for people in long-term care facilities to have rights during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is now using that passion to help people with disabilities know they have the right to vote like everyone else.
Leljedal's son, Lynn, lives in a long-term care facility that helps residents register to vote and cast ballots. She said people should not believe the stigma that people with development or intellectual disabilities cannot vote.
"Can the person voice what they want to do and make that choice on their own," Leljedal asked. "It is not about somebody talking them into who to vote for. It's not about persuasion. It's about the person's rights."
The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in every area of public life, including voting. That means they have the right to access polling places, voting equipment and other voting-related services. The Illinois State Board of Elections works to make that happen.
"A lot of effort goes into getting the message out, making sure election judges are trained in polling places, if they have the specialized equipment for disabled voters, that they know how to use it and guide the voter through it," said ISBE spokesperson Matt Dietrich.
Local election authorities are authorized to operate temporary voter registration places in long-term care facilities. Voting can also take place inside homes with election judges present to prevent undue influence or fraud.
The state is also launching an accessible vote by mail option.
"Whatever assistive technology they use to navigate their own computer at home, they can use that to navigate a ballot," Dietrich said. "They can then return it to the election authority without outside assistance."
While Illinois has improved voter access, there are seven states that ban people from voting for themselves if they have a legal guardian. The federal government has previously said this is a violation of voter rights, but Congress hasn't addressed the issue.
"These are antiquated laws that are 100 years old sometimes that are using phrases referring to these people who have a guardian in words that we won't even use in our language today," Leljedal said.
Missouri happens to be one of the states banning people with guardians from voting. Leljedal said she is appalled that this is happening just across the Illinois border.
People can find information about their local election authority by going to the Illinois State Board of Elections website and clicking the information for voters tab.
"For people who live in long-term care facility or have a developmental disability, they already have a harder time having their voice heard," Leljedal said. "So, we need to make sure their voice is heard."
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