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Highlands Today

How Much Help Can A Disabled Voter Get?

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: October 28, 2008

SEBRING - How much help can a disabled voter legally get from a friend, family member, caretaker or guardian when they're casting their vote?

Assistant Supervisor of Elections Norma Stokes said that any voter who requires assistance voting must first fill out a Declaration to Secure Assistance form, stating that it is necessary for the person to have help voting.

Could you define disabled? "Not all disabilities are visible," she replied. "Any person who claims to be disabled is considered to be disabled and is treated as if they are."

After signing the document, witnessed by an elections clerk, the disabled voter can have two poll workers, one from each major party, or a friend or family member help fill out the ballot. They cannot be their employer, employer's agent, or agent of the voter's union.

The helper must also sign a statement that they have not solicited this voter to help them at the polling site or within 100 feet of the polling site.

What about cases of dementia?

"Unless we've been notified by the court that their voting rights have been taken away, then they can vote," Stokes said.

No one can use a power of attorney to fill out an application for someone else's voter's registration, they cannot sign an absentee ballot, nor can they vote in place of that person, she said.

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