Voters with Disabilities

Working to Ensure Equal Access for All Voters

Framingham is committed to making voting accessible for all voters. We check each polling place to make sure they meet state accessibility regulations, and we train poll workers on assisting voters with disabilities.

Accessible Polling Places

All polling locations are accessible. The Secretary of the Commonwealth has standards locations are required to meet. This includes:
                               • Accessible parking
                               • Accessible entrances
                               • Ramps wherever there are stairs (these do not need to be permanent)

Accessible Voting Procedures

A voter can choose someone to assist them while:

                               • Entering the polling location
                               • Checking in
                               • Entering the voting booth
                               • Preparing the ballot
                               • Exiting the booth
                               • Checking out

If you can’t come to a polling location, you can vote through the mail using an absentee ballot, vote by mail ballot, or Accessible Vote by Mail.

Accessible Voting Equipment at the Polls

Every early voting and polling location at least one accessible voting machine. The AutoMARK Voter Assist Terminals can assist visually impaired voters. It displays the ballot in high-contrast, magnified text and uses audio cues. The AutoMARK can also read you your ballot before you print it out and submit it.

Accessible Vote by Mail Ballot for Voters Who Cannot Independently Mark their Ballot

The City Clerk is pleased to announce that the State is providing an Accessible Remote Ballot Marking System which is compatible with screen readers for eligible disabled voters.

If you are blind or have a vision impairment, have a mobility or dexterity disability, or have another disability that makes it difficult for you to independently and privately mark a paper ballot, you can request an accessible vote by mail ballot.

This System, which uses the Omni Ballot platform from Democracy Live, is compatible with screen readers, allowing voters who are blind, have low vision, or dexterity or other disabilities to participate in vote-by-mail and absentee voting privately and independently.

If you are eligible and wish to use the Accessible Vote by Mail system, please complete Accessible Vote by Mail Online Portal Application (state.ma.us). 

Additional information can be found on the Secretary of State’s website: Voters with Disabilities (state.ma.us)

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us: 508-532-5521.