(NewsNation) — The Department of Justice says Alaska is discriminating against voters with disabilities, announcing its findings in a Tuesday press release.
The DOJ says the state violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide an accessible ballot for in-person voting, selecting inaccessible polling places for federal, state and local elections and maintaining an inaccessible election website.
“For too long, people with disabilities have been denied the fundamental rights and freedoms that citizens of our democracy possess, including the opportunity to fully participate in the voting process,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
The DOJ opened its investigation after receiving complaints from individuals with disabilities in Alaska alleging accessibility issues. These individuals reported they could not vote privately and independently because accessible voting machines were not available or did not work, that they encountered inaccessible polling places and that they could not obtain key election information on the state’s election website.
“Voting is a fundamental right for all American citizens and ensuring they have full access to the election process is a hallmark of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to collaborate with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to work toward accessibility in voting for all Alaskans,” Tucker added.
The Alaska investigation is part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which focuses on protecting the voting rights of individuals with disabilities across the country.
