Voting Rights, Education & Assistance
Vote! It’s Your Right to Make Your Voice Heard
Oregonians with developmental disabilities vote because it is their right and their responsibility as citizens. Watch the video to hear more.
Can I Vote?
- Are you a resident of Oregon?
- Are you a U.S. citizen?
- Are you at least 18 years old?
If you answered yes to all three questions, you have the right to vote—no exceptions. The Oregon Voter Bill of Rights contains all of your rights related to voting, including the right to ask for help in voting from elections staff or from a friend or family member.
Voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and a hallmark of our democracy. For many years, many people with disabilities were excluded from this core aspect of citizenship.
Important federal civil rights laws were enacted to combat such forms of discrimination and protect the right to vote for all Americans. This guide from the U.S. Department of Justice explains how the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws help ensure fairness in the voting process for people with disabilities.
How do I Vote?
You’ve decided you want to vote. What now? Before you can vote, you have to register. Registering to vote is easy and fast.
- You can register online, in person at your County Elections Office or by mail.
- You can check here to see if you are already registered.
Can I Get Some Help?
Help is available! Any Oregon voter with a disability can get assistance to:
- Register to vote
- Vote their ballot
- Return their ballot
Call your County Elections office or 1 (866) 673-VOTE (8683) to receive assistance. You can also request assistance from a friend, family member, care provider or someone else you choose.
Where Can I Learn About the Issues?
- Get information about what is going to be on your ballot at Vote411.org.
- Find details about specific upcoming elections in Easy Voting Guides, published regularly by Disability Rights Oregon.
- Compare your feelings about important issues with what the candidates propose to do, with the Vote Your Values worksheet.
- Check out additional resources from The League of Women Voters of Oregon, including Voters Guides that are available in accessible formats.
- Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as an Oregonian and a U.S. citizen by exploring the Oregon Secretary of State’s online Civics Toolkit.
Can I Help Someone Vote?
By law, any Oregon voter can ask for help to register or vote. A voter can ask for help from a friend, family member, care provider or caregiver.
You can offer help to a person with a disability, but you shouldn’t assume that he or she needs help. Remember that helping someone else vote does not give you the right to tell them how to vote. You should only help if the person indicates that he or she wants assistance. You should also let the voter know that he or she can get help from the County Elections Office to register and vote privately.
- Assisting Voters with Disabilities is a helpful guide for family, friends and providers from Disability Rights Oregon.
- The Oregon Secretary of State offers an Assistance Quick Guide with the do’s and don’ts of helping someone to register to vote, vote, or return a ballot.
Your Next Steps
Find out if you’re registered to vote in Oregon
Register to vote online
Learn about issues in the next election
Assist someone who needs help to vote