Accessible Voting

As a voter with a disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation or assistance to vote. The Office of the Secretary of State is committed to ensuring accessibility at voting centers, and that you have the opportunity to vote privately and independently.

Voting centers must meet all of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. View the ADA checklist for voting centers for more information.

To request a reasonable accommodation or assistance, contact your county elections department.

Voting centers offer the opportunity to vote privately and independently. Each voting center is equipped with at least one Accessible Voting Unit (AVU), available 18 days before Election Day, until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Location:

Lewis County Auditor's Office

Address: 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA 98532

Visit VoteWA, your personalized elections toolkit, for more information on voting centers in your county.

Accessible Voters’ Pamphlet

Accessible formats of the voters' pamphlet are available online. If you wish to join the subscription list to receive a copy on CD or USB drive of the Voters' Pamphlet, join the subscription list or email voterspamphlet@sos.wa.gov. Provide your preferred format, name, telephone number, and mailing address.

Accessible Voters’ Pamphlet

Accessible voting units

Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available for voters who want assistance in filling out a paper ballot.

· AVUs can display larger type or can provide an audio ballot for persons with visual or cognitive disabilities.

· Voters can cast their ballot by using the select wheel or tactile button options.

· The equipment also supports a limited number of assistive switches, like foot pedals or sip and puff.

Identification required

Voters casting a ballot at an accessible voting center must either show a photo ID or sign a declaration. The signature on the declaration must match the signature in the voter registration record. (RCW 29A.40.160)

Acceptable forms of photo identification

· Driver licenses;

· State identification card;

· Student identification card;

· Tribal identification card;

· Employer identification card; or

· Any form of valid photo identification with the voter’s name on it.

Accessible voting unit availability & hours

Accessible voting units (AVUs) are available starting 18 days before Election Day, until 8 p.m. on Election Day. The County Courthouse will remain open for ballot drop-off and use of the accessible voting equipment 18 days prior,

An AVU presents your ballot on a monitor. You select choices by touching the screen, using a select wheel, or by using a tool. You can use headphones to listen to the text and prompts on your ballot. Most machines can also be fitted with sip-and- puff tools. MORE>>

AVU location:

Lewis County Auditor's Office
Address: 351 NW North Street, Chehalis, WA 98532

Assistance voting your ballot

Anyone may assist you in voting your ballot, except your employer or union representative. At a voting center, you may ask for two election workers – one from each political party – to help you fill out your ballot.

A person who has a guardian may still be able to vote and should not be turned away from a voting center by an election worker. Guardianship papers indicate if an individual has the right to vote. If there is ever doubt about a person’s voting status, the person should be issued a provisional ballot to vote with.

Accessibility concerns

If you are concerned about the accessibility of a voting center, contact the Lewis County Auditor's office at 360-740-1278 or contact the Office of the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (800) 448- 4881.