(Redmond, WA, Monday, October 17, 2022) The midterm elections are 22 days away, and deadlines to register are fast approaching in many states. According to recently released data, an estimated 1.95 million people with disabilities had trouble voting in the 2020 election. Taking part in the electoral process has long been particularly difficult for those with disabilities. A new website aims to make voting more accessible for all Americans.

AccessibleVoting.net is a one stop shop for helping anyone with a disability access information and resources they need to vote. It’s specific to the individual’s location, down to the city and county level. The site includes information on the types of voting machines in use, accessible polling locations or the option of mail in voting, even links to instructional videos. All of these tools are aimed at making sure the elections are truly inclusive.

Microsoft and the Center for Civic Design partnered on this website after working closely with disability communities to understand specific challenges and what is needed to garner greater civil society participation.

As state laws are continually changing, even for this upcoming Nov. 8 election, Microsoft and partners will update the website so that information is always relevant and current.

Soundbites – Rylin Rodgers, Microsoft Accessibility Policy Advisor 

• OUR DISABILITY VOTING INDEX IS A TOOL FOR AMERICANS TO USE TO EXERCISE THEIR VOICE AT THE POLLS. THE DISABILITY VOTING INDEX PROVIDES A SINGLE LOCATION THAT PEOPLE IN ALL 50 STATES CAN USE TO ACCESS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING IN THEIR STATE.
• ‘ACCESSIBLE VOTING-DOT-NET’ PROVIDES INFORMATION ON VOTERS RIGHTS, VOTE BY MAIL, IN-PERSON ELECTION DAY VOTING, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THE TYPES OF VOTING MACHINES USED AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, ALL TO MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE.
• WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAKING VOTING ACCESSIBLE AND WIDELY AVAILABLE TO ALL AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH DISABILITIES. THE ABILITY TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS PARAMOUNT TO UPHOLDING DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA.