§20104 — Title 52 Voting and Elections | U.S. Code

Summary

States must provide registration and voting help for elderly and disabled people in federal elections. They must post large-print instructions at every permanent registration office and polling place and provide information through telecommunications devices for the deaf. Disabled voters do not need a notary or a medical certificate to request or use an absentee ballot, unless state law requires a medical certificate to prove they should automatically receive ballots or to apply after the deadline. The state chief election officer must notify elderly and disabled voters about these aids, assistance under section 10508, and absentee voting procedures by the same time general registration and voting notices are sent.

Title 52, §20104

Voting and Elections — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each State shall make available registration and voting aids for Federal elections for handicapped and elderly individuals, including—

(1)instructions, printed in large type, conspicuously displayed at each permanent registration facility and each polling place; and

(2)information by telecommunications devices for the deaf.

(b)No notarization or medical certification shall be required of a handicapped voter with respect to an absentee ballot or an application for such ballot, except that medical certification may be required when the certification establishes eligibility, under State law—

(1)to automatically receive an application or a ballot on a continuing basis; or

(2)to apply for an absentee ballot after the deadline has passed.

(c)The chief election officer of each State shall provide public notice, calculated to reach elderly and handicapped voters, of the availability of aids under this section, assistance under section 10508 of this title, and the procedures for voting by absentee ballot, not later than general public notice of registration and voting is provided.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1973ee–3 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to elections taking place after Dec. 31, 1985, see section 9 of Pub. L. 98–435, set out as a note under section 20101 of this title.

§20104 Registration and Voting Aids