Only 10% of polling locations are accessible to disabled voters in Metro Detroit.
Since 2018, Detroit Disability Power has evaluated polling place accessibility across Michigan. Our 2025 audit of 447 Michigan polling places reveals 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 nearly one in three voting-age Michiganders with disabilities.
The Problem
30.4% of voting-age Michiganders have a disability, yet our audit of 447 polling places in Michigan found widespread barriers to voting. People with disabilities face:
Unmarked or obstructed pathways
Lack of accessible voting equipment
Poll workers unable to provide assistance
And so much more.
The Solution
Some access issues will require resources to be invested to create the access required by law. Other issues can be solved with simple, low cost (or no cost!) adjustments. Our report outlines actionable recommendations to ensure equal access, some of which are:
Better state support for local election officials
Improved poll worker training
Dedicated funding for accessibility improvements
Why it Matters
It's the law. At Detroit Disability Power, we conduct poll audits to ensure everyone has their constitutional rights upheld. Voters with disabilities have the right to:
Cast ballots privately and independently
Receive assistance from a person of their choosing
Equal protection under the law, which requires equitable voting access
Watch the 2024 Poll Audit Briefing.
A recording of the 2025 briefing will be added here shortly after April 9th.
Previous Poll Audits
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Advocacy Director, Eric Welsby, at Eric@DetroitDisabilityPower.org