A lawsuit in Indiana seeking greater accessibility to ballots for voters with print disabilities has been settled, according to two disability rights groups.
Terre Haute’s Kristin Fleschner was one of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed in December 2020 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
The lawsuit was filed against the Indiana Election Commission and the Indiana Secretary of State. In October 2021, the Indiana Elections Division was added to the lawsuit.
As a result of the settlement, the state will launch a new remotely accessible ballot-marking tool that will allow these voters to privately and independently cast absentee ballots, according to a news release from a disability rights group. I agree to get..
“Voters will be able to digitally access and mark their ballots using their own assistive technology thanks to this tool,” they wrote. Once the ballot has been marked, it will be available for voters to email. The tool will be available to voters in time for the May 2023 primary election.
The court ruled that absentee voters who are unable to independently mark their ballots may vote by mail only by appointment with the Election Commission’s “Travel Commission” in Indiana. issued two preliminary injunctions against the state defendants who waived the rules of
The court is also seeking legislative changes to extend the latest preliminary injunction until the May 2023 primary and remove that requirement.
In the meantime, eligible voters who wish to exercise the new remotely accessible ballot marking tool option will need to apply for an absentee ballot.
Absentee applications can be accessed by logging into the Voter Portal and selecting “Print-Impaired Voters.” Alternatively, print-impaired voters can complete and submit a PDF version of the form.
Absentee voting, commonly known as early voting, begins on April 4. Voting day is his May 2nd.
Plaintiffs, Indiana Association for the Blind, Indiana Board of Protection and Advocacy Services, Christine Fleshner, Rita Kirsch, and Wanda Tucket, are Tom Crichon and Sam Adams of Indiana Disability Rights and Disabled Persons. Represented by Jelena Corrick, Rosa Lee Bichel and Madeleine Reichmann. rights advocate.
