Dear Town/City Clerk:
My name is _____ and I am registered to vote in [town/city name]. I intend to vote in person during the upcoming election on [date]. Due to my disability, it is unreasonable for me to complete a paper ballot independently. Under federal law, [town/city name] is required to provide an accessible means for people with disabilities to vote privately and independently. I am writing to request that [town/city name] provide an accessible voting device for the upcoming election so that I can complete my ballot without assistance. An accessible voting device could be similar to the One4All accessible voting system that is already used during federal elections.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires municipalities to provide equal access to government services and programs, which includes voting. Voters without disabilities are able to fill out their ballots privately and independently. However, because [town/city name] has not provided an accessible way for me to vote, the only way that I am able to complete a ballot is to have another person fill out my ballot for me. As a result, I am treated differently than voters who do not have disabilities. This unequal access violates federal law.
All New Hampshire citizens have the right to vote independently, privately, and with a secret ballot in all elections. Local municipalities are obligated to provide voters with an accessible way to vote. Both Concord and Exeter have already implemented accessible voting in their local elections, using Democracy Live as a vendor. I would encourage you to reach out to the Concord City Clerk for more information.
I am hopeful that I will be able to vote using an accessible voting system in the upcoming local election. Rather than filing legal complaints, I would prefer to find a solution to make future municipal elections accessible to vote. I am happy to meet with you and other necessary parties to discuss this issue further.
However, If the city is not willing to provide an accessible means to vote in the [date] election, I plan to file a federal ADA complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Please let me know whether the city is willing to provide residents with an accessible voting option no later than [date].
Thank you for your attention to this matter, I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
Sincerely,
Name
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