U.S. Attorney's Office Joins Virtual Listening Session On Voting Barriers Encountered By Individuals With Disabilities In North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joined the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and Disability Rights Section, to hold a statewide virtual listening session on voting barriers faced by individuals with disabilities.

The purpose of the virtual event was to encourage community members to share experiences related to obstacles and barriers encountered by persons with disabilities in the voting process, and to address questions and concerns on the topics of registering to vote, obtaining voting and election information, absentee ballot procedures and in-person voting, accessibility in the polling places, and assistance with voting.

Representatives from nonprofit agencies, private organizations, educational institutions, disability advocates and individuals affiliated with the disability community were among those invited to participate in the listening session.

In her remarks to participants, U.S. Attorney King said, “Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy, and every citizen who is eligible to vote must be able to do so without interference or discrimination. Our role as federal prosecutors is to protect the integrity of the election process. That includes ensuring that every American citizen has access to the ballot, and that Americans with disabilities can be full participants in civic life and exercise the franchise. With today’s event, we hope to understand where the needs exist in the community and what barriers may prohibit individuals with disabilities to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

The U.S. Department of Justice’s “The Americans with Disabilities Act and Other Federal Laws Protecting the Rights of Voters with Disabilities” provides guidance to states, counties, cities, election officials, poll workers, and voters on how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal laws help ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to vote. For more information, including how to file an ADA complaint please visit here.