Oregon Hotline Reopens Ahead of Nov. 3 Midterms
Disability Rights Oregon is fielding calls from voters with physical challenges who need help filling out or returning ballots before the election.
By Ryan Carter ·
Just six days remain until the Nov. 3 midterm election, and a specialized assistance line is back online to help voters with disabilities. The hotline, operated by Disability Rights Oregon, serves as a direct channel for individuals who encounter barriers while receiving, filling out, or returning their ballots.
The organization announced Thursday that it has opened the phone line and launched a new website to support voters and report issues. Tom Stenson, the group’s deputy legal director, has operated this hotline for every election for many years. He is among the staff members who answer the phones.
Stenson noted that the most common inquiry involves uncertainty about legal rights. “The number one thing people call about is they don’t know what their rights are,” Stenson said. Callers frequently ask if a helper can fill out a ballot for them. For voters with blindness or low vision, the answer is yes, with the exception of the signature.
Stenson explained that voters with limited or no vision can contact their county clerk to vote via a computer tablet at the clerk’s office. These devices read ballot options aloud and allow for voice selection. Clerks can also transport these tablets to voters’ homes if necessary. This arrangement helps protect voter privacy while ensuring accessibility.
Another frequent concern involves voters who have lost mobility in an arm or hand. These individuals worry that their altered handwriting might cause their ballots to be disqualified because the signature looks different than in past elections. “So much of our election security is tied to signatures, so we explain to them how to do their signature,” Stenson said.
He advises these voters to contact their county elections office to register a name stamp or another mark as their official signature. If county clerks fail to assist voters, or if ballot boxes are inaccessible, Disability Rights Oregon will contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Office and help file formal complaints.
Stenson said call volume is lower this year than in recent years, but he expects an increase in the week leading up to the vote. With only days left, he urges every caller to drop their ballot into a physical box rather than mailing it to ensure timely processing.
