A recent federal investigation conducted by the Justice Department found that Alaska is facing significant voting accessibility challenges for people with disabilities. According to a press release dated June 18, 2024, core services required for equitable voting experiences must be revised.
The investigation revealed that accessible voting machines, crucial for individuals with disabilities to vote independently, were either missing from polling sites or functioning incorrectly. This posed challenges for voters like Maggie Winston from Kenai, who expressed frustration at still needing assistance from poll workers to cast her ballot.
Winston stressed the importance of people with disabilities being able to vote independently, noting that having to depend on others detracts from her privacy.
Ric Nelson, a former Anchorage resident who moved to Idaho seeking better disability support, recounted similar difficulties during his time in Alaska. He highlighted instances where volunteers were unfamiliar with operating voting machines or unaware of the rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Many volunteers just don’t know how to assist people with disabilities,” Nelson stated, citing his experiences with cerebral palsy, which affects his ability to speak and read.
Jena Crafton from Eagle River echoed these sentiments, sharing her frustrations from the previous year’s primaries when poll workers denied her mother the opportunity to help her understand the voting process due to her intellectual disabilities.
“We deserve the right to vote like everyone else,” Crafton asserted.
The Justice Department has set a July 1, 2024, deadline for Alaska’s Division of Elections to respond with plans for resolving these issues. In response, Director Carol Beecher acknowledged the concerns raised and pledged to collaborate with the Department of Justice to address them.
“We are committed to ensuring that every precinct has accessible facilities,” Beecher assured, noting ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and communication.
As Alaskans with disabilities await further developments, the spotlight remains on ensuring equal access to the fundamental right to vote for all citizens.
