Senator Danielson’s Bill to Increase Voting Rights for Coloradans with Disabilities Unanimously Passes Senate Committee

April 1, 2019

Denver, CO – The Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today voted unanimously to pass SB19-202, Voting Rights for Voters With Disabilities, a bill sponsored by Senator Jessie Danielson (D-Jefferson County) to increase ballot access for voters with disabilities. The bill now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

“The right to vote is essential to our democracy – and no disability should prevent any Coloradan from exercising this right,” said Senator Danielson. “Although Colorado has the most inclusive and reliable voting system in the country, there are still improvements to make. This is an important step forward in extending voting rights to all Colorado citizens.”

The bill requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures to enable voters with disabilities to independently mark a paper ballot using non-visual or low-vision access technology. This would include voting at polling locations and for mail-in ballots.

“This measure is particularly important to blind and low-vision voters so that they have equal access to the polls and can vote a private ballot,” said Scott LaBarre with the National Federation of the Blind.

“Our democracy works best when everyone participates, and we need to do more to make voting more accessible to every Coloradan,” added Senator Danielson.

For more information on SB19-202, please visit http://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-202.

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