Accessible Voting

Voting absentee by mail

Voting absentee by mail gives all registered voters in Daviess County the opportunity to vote without having to travel to a voting location.

Permanent absentee voting is an option for people with disabilities.

Learn more about the voting absentee by mail process in Daviess County.

Voting materials in accessible formats

Voter guides and sample ballots are available in large print and audio formats. You can request these materials by calling (660) 663-3300 ext. 4 or emailing countyclerk@daviesscountymo.gov. Accessible-format materials will be available starting 30 days before the election.

Accessible voting locations

Voting locations must be made accessible for all people, regardless of ability. Under Missouri and Federal law, all voters must be given the same opportunity for access and participation in the voting process.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) protect the right of people with disabilities to vote. These laws require that:

• Voting is private and independent
• Every voting location has an accessible voting machine
• Every voting location has accessible parking
• Voting locations have an accessible entrance and an accessible route to the entrance
• Voting locations provide an accessible route to the voting area
• Voting locations offer accessible voting procedures 
• People who are blind or low vision get the help they need

Election workers are trained to work with voters with disabilities and to make the voting process accessible.

Curbside voting

If you can’t enter the voting place, you may vote curbside. Trained election workers will bring a ballot to you. You may sit in your car and vote, or you may vote at the door of the building.

Learn more about the voting locations in Daviess County.

Accessible voting machines

Every voting location is required to have a voting machine that is ADA compliant. These machines include features like audio ballots, large print/zoom features, and height and tilt adjustments on the screens. Please let the election workers know if you have questions or need assistance with the voting machine. These machines are not connected to the internet, or have any electronic vote counting capabilities, they simply allow you an easier way to mark your paper ballot.

To mark your ballot using the touchscreen ballot marking device:

• Chose the machine you would like to use. An election judge will be present to assist you if requested.
• Review the instructions. Answer any questions that prompt you. Proceed to the ballot.
• Make your candidate selections. Select candidates by touching their names, touch again to deselect. To vote for a write-in candidate, touch the Write-In line – a keyboard will appear. Type in the name of the candidate and touch the Record Write-In button to continue.
• Use the Right —> and Left <— buttons to navigate if your ballot is more than one page long.
• Once you reach the last page of your ballot, press the DONE button and a review screen automatically appears. This screen will list only the candidates and choices that you have selected to vote for.
• To make changes, touch the screen for the desired contest and the page for that contest will automatically appear.
• When you’ve reviewed your choices, touch the Print button to print your Paper Ballot.
• Review your selections on the paper ballot to insure they are correct. At this point you can choose to either spoil that ballot (see poll worker for help) or cast your ballot.
• When you are ready, cast your Ballot by inserting it into the ballot counting machine. The election judge will give you an “I Voted” sticker.

Casting your ballot

You’ll find instructions for marking and casting your ballot posted in each voting location. If you have any questions about how to mark or cast your ballot, or if you have incorrectly marked a ballot, contact an election worker for instructions.

Assistance at the voting location

If you need assistance, you may bring someone with you to help you vote, or you may ask for help from an election worker. Anyone is permitted to help you vote except for your employer, an agent of your employer, or an agent of your union. The person who helps you vote is prohibited from influencing your selections and cannot tell others how you voted.

Signing election documents

If you can’t sign your name, you can use another legal mark, such as an approved signature stamp, or you can mark an “X” on the signature line.

If you can’t make any mark, you must indicate in some manner to the person assisting you that you want to sign your name. The person helping you must sign the election form and attest that you indicated that you want to sign the election form.

Daviess County Notice of Accessibility

Further notice is given that, when a polling place has limited accessibility, a voter who is elderly or has a disability may be provided an alternate means of casting a ballot. Such means may include:

• Curbside voting
• Assisted voting
• Voting absentee by mail

A voter may apply for an absentee ballot in person or by mail or may have a relative or guardian apply in person on their behalf. If a voter has a permanent disability, they are not required to have the signature notarized. In addition, voters requiring assistance may be assisted by a person of the voter’s choice.

For more information on registration and voting in Daviess County, contact the Daviess County Clerk’s office by telephone at (660) 663-3300 ext. 4 or by mail at:

Daviess County Elections
102 North Main Street
2nd Floor, Suite 205
Gallatin, MO 64640