North Dakota Resources for Voters with Disabilities

U.S. Vote Foundation's North Dakota Voters with Disabilities Guide provides valuable resources including information on accessible voting options, voter rights, and guidance on the voting process. This essential North Dakota guide empowers individuals to exercise their right to vote in a private, independent, and accessible way.

What are my rights as a voter with a disability in North Dakota?

North Dakota, you have the right to the following as protected by federal law. Election staff must respect these rights:

  • Accessible voter registration
  • Accessible polling places
  • Policies and procedures that do not discriminate against you based on your disability
  • Accessible, available, and operational voting systems, features
  • Your service animal to accompany you inside the polling place
  • The right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
  • Assistance from a person of choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent, or a candidate unless this person is your family member)
  • Election Staff trained to understand the rights above.


 

Federal law requires assistance in registering to vote from offices that provide public assistance or state-funded programs serving people with disabilities. Responsibilities include:

  • Providing voter registration forms
  • Assisting voters in completing the forms
  • Transmitting completed forms to the appropriate election official
  • All aspects of voter registration must be accessible
What are the rules of assistance for disabled voters in North Dakota?
  • You may request assistance from a poll worker or receive assistance from a person of your choice with the following exceptions:  
    • your employer, an agent of your employer
    • an officer or agent of your union
    • a candidate on the ballot or a relative of a candidate on the ballot
       
  • A poll worker cannot force you to accept assistance.
What are the ways to request an Absentee Ballot in North Dakota?
  • Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot. You can return your ballot by mail or secure drop box.
     
  • The Application is available in English on our website with a step-by-step process.
How is the North Dakota mail-in or absentee ballot process made accessible for voters with print disabilities?
  • You can have someone help you as you fill out your paper mail-in ballot. They might need to sign an affidavit.
     
  • Your helper can not be your employer, labor union official, or a candidate (or a candidate’s relative) who is on the ballot.
     
  • When you request a mail-in ballot if you do not have an ID due to your disability you can have some attest to your identity with their ID.
What accommodations are available for voters with disabilities at polling locations in North Dakota?

Federal law requires polling places to meet minimum compliance standards for individuals with special needs. 

  • Your service animal may accompany you inside the polling place
  • You have a right to vote privately and independently or with assistance, if needed
  • You may have assistance from a person of choice, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker (but not your boss, union agent, or a candidate unless this person is your family member).

For assistance or more information on your polling location’s accessibility, please contact your local election official.

How can I prepare to use accessible voting equipment in North Dakota prior to Election Day?
Who do I contact if I have problems when voting in North Dakota?

To file a formal complaint about voting accessibility, fill out the Voting Access Grievance/Complaint Form and mail it to:

 Elections Division
 Secretary of State
 600 East Boulevard Avenue
 Bismarck, ND 58505

  • You must get the form notarized and the complaint must be signed and sworn.
  • You must include your name, address, phone number and any information relevant to your complaint. 
  • Your complaint will be resolved within 90 days unless you agree to a time extension.
  • You can request help with filling out this form by calling 1-800-352-0867 or 1-800-366-6888 TTY (ND Relay).

You can contact The North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project by mail at:

Wells Fargo Bank Building
400 East Broadway
Suite 409,
Bismarck, ND 58501

By Phone at 701-328-2950/800-472-2670 Toll Free
Or by email at [email protected].

You can also fill out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form and submit it to the US Department of Justice by one of the following methods:

  • Online, through the form’s submission process - this is the fastest method.
  • By fax at (202) 616-9881. You MUST include “ATTN: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Complaints" at the top of your fax submission for it to be processed correctly.
  • By mailing your form to: 

                U.S. Department of Justice
                Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division
                ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
                950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
                Washington, DC 20530


For additional assistance, The National Network of ADA Centers can provide local contact information for other organizations you may wish to contact, including your Regional ADA Center or ADA Knowledge Translation Center, or Federal Agencies and Resources.

Helpful Quick Links
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