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California made it easier to vote, but some with disabilities still face barriers
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California made it easier to vote, but some with disabilities still face barriers

  • BY YUE STELLA YU AND SAMEEA KAMAL/CalMatters CalMatters

California is hailed as a national leader for voting access, but visually impaired voters and their advocates say they still face unnecessary barriers. They argue that people should be able to return ballots electronically. Disability advocates are asking a federal judge to compel Secretary of State Shirley Weber's office to allow voters who have difficulty using printed materials to return their ballots via fax in the November election. Weber's office declined to speak about the lawsuit, but opposed a 2022 bill that sought to let voters return ballots electronically. Weber cited security concerns including the threat of cyber attacks. The case is set to be heard this month in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.