Only 13% of polling locations are accessible to disabled voters in Metro Detroit.
Since 2018, Detroit Disability Power has evaluated polling place accessibility across Michigan, with our 2024 audit of 294 Metro Detroit locations serving 1 million Michiganders revealing a critical accessibility gap that threatens equal voting rights for people with disabilities.
Every Michigan voter deserves equal access to the ballot box. Join our effort to make voting accessible for the 30.4% of voting-age Michiganders with disabilities. Get the report:
The Problem
30.4% of voting-age Michiganders have a disability, yet our audit of 294 polling places in Metro Detroit found widespread barriers to voting. People with disabilities face:
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Unmarked or obstructed pathways
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Lack of accessible voting equipment
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Untrained poll workers unable to provide assistance
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And so much more.
The Solution
Some access issues will require resources be invested to create the access required by law. Other issues can be solved with simple, low cost, Election Day adjustments. Our report outlines eight actionable recommendations to ensure equal access, some of which are:
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Better coordination between state and local election officials
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Improved poll worker training
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Dedicated funding for accessibility improvements
Why This Matters
It's the law. At Detroit Disability Power, we conduct poll audits to ensure everyone has their constitutional rights upheld:
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Voters with disabilities have the right to cast ballots privately and independently
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Right to receive assistance from a person of their choosing
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Equal protection under the law requires equitable voting access
Voting Rights Laws
1965
Voting Rights Act
Section 201: Prohibits literacy tests, protecting voters with cognitive disabilities
Section 208: Allows voters with disabilities to receive assistance from a person of choice
1990
Americans with Disabilities Act
Title II requires equal opportunity in all government programs, including voting; applies to all aspects of the voting process
2002
Help America Vote Act
Requires at least one accessible voting system at each polling place
Systems must allow private and independent voting for voters with disabilities
MCL 168.662 & 168.795
Michigan Voting Laws
Extends Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act and Help America Vote Act provisions to non-federal elections
Requires accessible voting devices at each polling place
How You Can Help
Whether you're a Clerk, a poll worker, a voter, or a Get Out The Vote organization, you can help improve the amount of fully accessible polling places.
Election Officials
Reach out and work with the disability community in your area to address access concerns. Advocate for additional funds from the State to improve older, inaccessible sites. Visit sites with access concerns and see the barriers for yourself. Contact Eric@DetroitDisabilityPower.org today.
Community Members
Connect with us and join our Audit Team. And, if you encounter barriers to voting, including problems getting into a polling site, issues with the Voter Assist Terminal (VAT) or wheelchair-height voting booth, or other issues report it to 866-OUR-VOTE.
Voting Rights Orgs
Conduct poll audits in your city or township. Start small and build as you go. We've compiled a toolkit that you can access here. This kit will answer a lot of the beginner questions and set you on a path towards completing your first quality, robust audit.
Download the 2022 and 2024 Report
This report debuting in 2025 contains data from the 2024 elections. To see our previous poll audit report, that debuted in 2023 and audited the 2022 elections, click on the buttons below. In the 2022 election, we found that only 16% of polling locations were fully accessible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Advocacy Director, Eric Welsby, at Eric@DetroitDisabilityPower.org
