Most people with disabilities can vote on their own. However, some people may need help with part or all of the voting process. In this guide, the person providing help is called the assistant.
An assistant can be almost anyone: a friend, family member, care provider, or poll worker. A voter with a disability cannot be assisted by their employer or union representative.
This guide explains the assistant’s role before, during, and after the voting process.
Before the Vote
The assistant offers help
The assistant should not assume a voter with a disability needs help. The assistant makes it clear that help is available but does not help unless the voter asks for help.
The assistant supports the voter’s independence
The assistant avoids influencing the voter. The assistant should not share their personal political opinions because the voter may feel pressured to agree. The assistant should also tell the voter that their choices are private.
The assistant checks voter registration
The assistant can help the voter confirm their registration in their current county using VoteWA.
Voters can register or update their registration online, by mail, by email, in person, or by phone. The Voter Hotline at (800) 448‑4881 and the Washington Secretary of State’s website provide more information.
Important deadlines:
- Online registration: must be submitted no later than 8 days before Election Day.
- By mail: the county must receive the application no later than 8 days before Election Day.
- In person: voters may register at their county auditor’s office until 8 p.m. on Election Day.
The assistant helps with voting accommodations
Many tools and services help make voting accessible. The assistant helps the voter decide what works best. Information about accessible voting is available at the Secretary of State’s Voters with Disabilities website. Some examples of voting accommodations are:
Accessible Voting Units (AVUs)
AVUs are available in every county. They allow voters to read and mark ballots electronically and make it possible for voters who are blind, have low vision, cannot read printed ballots, or cannot physically mark a ballot to vote independently and privately. AVUs are available 18 days before Election Day through 8 p.m. on Election Day. Locations and hours are available from county election offices. Election officers are available to assist the voter with using the AVU. The voter can have the assistant or another person help them vote on the AVU.
Alternative formats
Ballots, pamphlets, and voters’ guides may be available in large print, Braille, or audio.
To request these formats, call the Voter Hotline at (800) 448‑4881 or visit the Secretary of State’s website.
The assistant helps access election information
Every household in Washington receives a printed voters’ pamphlet with election information. The assistant can share information from the pamphlet with the voter, including explaining information in language the voter understands. Election information is also available online at the Secretary of State Elections website.
During the Vote
The assistant’s role is to help the voter understand and carry out their choices—not to make choices for them.
The assistant explains the instructions on the ballot
After sharing information from the voters’ pamphlet, the assistant explains how to cast a ballot. This can include reading the ballot and instructions and putting them into language the voter understands.
The assistant can reword ballot instructions to make them clearer. However, the assistant should not change or add to the information about any voting choice because that could influence the voter.
The assistant helps the voter mark and review the ballot
The assistant reads all options on the ballot (listed in order) and asks the voter what choices they want to make. The assistant marks the ballot only as directed by the voter. If the assistant is unsure of the voter’s choice, they ask for clarification without using language that could influence the voter.
The assistant should avoid improper influence. Suggesting or persuading a voter to support or oppose a candidate or measure while in a voting center is a gross misdemeanor.
The assistant:
- Never makes an assumption or suggestion about the voter’s preference.
Incorrect example: Assuming that the voter wants to vote for all candidates from political party X. - Never makes decisions for the voter.
Incorrect example: Marking a choice different from what the voter wanted. - Never pressures the voter.
Incorrect example: “Only X and Y have a chance. A vote for Z is a waste.” - Never threatens or scares the voter.
- Never gives false or incomplete information.
- Respects the voter’s right to skip any race or measure.
The assistant gives the voter a chance to privately review the ballot before it is cast. The voter must also have the opportunity to privately and independently change the ballot before it is submitted.
If the voter makes a mistake, such as selecting more than one candidate for a position, the assistant explains the error, describes how it affects the ballot, and gives the voter a chance to correct it.
The assistant ensures the ballot is signed correctly
For a mailed ballot to be counted, it must be returned in the correct envelope and with a valid signature in the signature box.
If the voter cannot sign their name, the following steps are required:
- The voter makes a mark in the signature area.
- Two people witness the mark. The assistant may be one of the witnesses.
- Both witnesses sign the envelope.
If voting at a voting center, a voter who cannot sign must be identified by another registered voter.
After the Vote
The assistant protects the voter’s privacy
After voting, the voter’s choices remain private. The assistant should not discuss the help they provided. Only the voter may choose to share that information.
This information is current as of: June 2026
The following federal funding partner funded the production of this material: the Administration for Community Living (2601WAPADD-01, 2601WAPAVA-01). These contents are the sole responsibility of Disability Rights Washington and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Community Living.
This information is a service of Disability Rights Washington (DRW). It provides general information as a public service only, and is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should contact an attorney. You do not have an attorney-client relationship with DRW. If you would like more information about this topic or would like to receive this information in an alternative format call DRW at (800) 562-2702, or email info@dr-wa.org.
Always advocate in a timely manner. Please be aware that there are certain time limits or deadlines to file a complaint, a lawsuit, or take legal action.
DRW cannot guarantee that any individual or organization included in this material will represent or assist you. DRW also cannot guarantee the quality of this individual’s or organization’s representation.
Permission to reprint this publication is granted by the author, DRW, provided that the publication is distributed free of charge and with attribution. If you do disseminate any DRW document, please send us an email to info@dr-wa.org letting us know the nature of the audience and number of people with whom it was shared.
Disability Rights Washington
315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850
Seattle, WA 98104
T: (206) 324-1521 or (800) 562-2702
Fax: (206) 957-0729
Email: info@dr-wa.org
Website: www.disabilityrightswa.org
Interpreters Available
DRW is a member of the National Disability Rights Network. A substantial portion of the DRW budget is federally funded.