Polling Place Services

Touch screen machines

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires that election authorities throughout the country have voting equipment in place for voters with disabilities to vote privately and independently.

Every polling place in suburban Cook County has at least one touch screen voting machine. Voters who are blind or visually impaired or voters who have limited dexterity are encouraged to use the touchscreen machines.

Each touch screen is equipped with an audio track that voters can activate to have the ballot read to them in English, Spanish, Chinese or Hindi. Voters can use a keypad to navigate through the ballot and make selections.

Seated voting booth

Voters who prefer to vote an optical scan ballot, may choose to make selections at the seated voting booth.

The seated voting booth has a low tabletop and legs that extend outward to accommodate voters who use wheelchairs. Seniors or other voters who prefer to sit down while voting can also use this booth.

Voting assistance

If you have difficulty marking an optical scan ballot or making selections on the touch screen, you may request assistance from a friend, relative or two election judges (one from each party) in your precinct.

Under state law, both the voter and the individual(s) providing assistance must sign a legal affidavit at the polling place.

Curbside voting

You may request to have election materials brought out to you in your parked vehicle on Election Day. Election judges (one from each party) will provide you with a ballot at a specified location just outside the building that houses the polling place.

Please notify the Clerk's office at least a week before Election Day to request curbside voting:

Magnifiers

Hand-held magnifiers for visually impaired voters are available at each precinct. Ask an election judge to use one at the polling place.

Disability coordinator

For more information, or if you have a disability and encounter problems on Election Day, contact our office