The federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984 (VAA) (42 U.S.C. § 1973ee et seq.) generally requires polling places across the United States to be physically accessible to people with disabilities for all federal elections. Where no accessible location is available to serve as a polling place, a county must provide an alternate means of casting a ballot on the day of the election.

If you have a disability, or are at least 65 years of age and have been assigned to a polling place deemed inaccessible by the County Board of Elections, you can vote by alternative ballot. If you are qualified to vote by alternative ballot, you have the right to do so regardless of whether you are able to appear to vote at the polling place. Much like an absentee ballot, an alternative ballot is a paper ballot that can be delivered to the County Board of Elections in person, by an authorized representative, or through the U.S. mail.

Applications for alternative ballot must be submitted to your County Board of Elections no later than 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Election Day. In case of an emergency, you can submit an Emergency Application for Alternative Ballot, which must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Completed alternative ballots must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day (at the time the polls close).

Alternative Ballot Application