Blind voters sue over access to absentee ballots

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Several blind voters and an advocacy group for the blind sued Ohio’s elections chief on Monday over the accessibility of his website and paper absentee ballots in the swing state.

The federal lawsuit claims that Secretary of State Jon Husted has failed to ensure the rights of blind and disabled people to vote privately and independently, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Though Husted’s office says “vision-impaired voters have numerous opportunities to participate in elections.”

Ohio law allows residents to vote absentee by mail or in person without needing a reason. Voters also can change their voter registration information online and obtain certain forms through the secretary of state’s website.

The complaint alleges that the state’s paper absentee ballots are not accessible to blind people and residents with certain disabilities, who need another person to read and mark the ballots for them.

“Such assistance strips the individual plaintiffs of the secrecy of their ballots,” attorneys from Disability Rights Ohio wrote. The group filed the lawsuit in Columbus federal court on behalf of three Ohio voters and the Baltimore-based National Federation of the Blind.

Husted spokesman Josh Eck said each polling location in Ohio has a voting system that allows people to mark their ballot without needing anyone’s assistance. Republican and Democrat election officials also can help blind or disabled voters cast an absentee ballot from their home.