The purpose of our PAVA (Protection & Advocacy for Voter Access) program is to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places. Payments to provide PAVA services are made to the Protection and advocacy system established pursuant to Part C of Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
PAVA is designed to serve people with disabilities, meaning that they comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) definition of disability:
- A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity;
- A record of such impairment(s); or
- The perception of having such an impairment
HDRC routinely assists qualified individuals in early voter registration. We are available to conduct group presentations on the importance of casting a vote and assisting people with completing registration forms that are then submitted to the Office of Elections.
Prior to and on Election Day, we also will visit polling sites to check on accessibility. If you know of a questionable polling place in your community, tell us and we will monitor it.