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Registrar of Voters
Registrar of Voters

Accessible Voting and RAVBM

Accessible Voting for Citizens with Disabilities

The Registrar of Voters strives to provide vote centers that are accessible to the elderly and voters with disabilities. If a Vote Center does not meet accessibility guidelines, call (408) 299-POLL (7655) to receive information on alternative methods of voting.

The County of Santa Clara's electronic voting system with accessible features, including touchscreen and audio, gives voters with disabilities the ability to cast a secret ballot without assistance. The voting system is equipped with an audio voting component that allows voters to listen to the ballot and make their choices using the keypad provided. The keypad includes a "sip and puff" feature as well.

Voters who are unable to mark a ballot, may bring up to two individuals to assist them in voting.

Audio recordings of the County Voter Information Guide are available upon request. Call (408) 299-VOTE (8683) or toll free (866) 430-VOTE (8683). For online audio, click HERE. 

Registration and voting information are available to the hearing impaired by TTY communication. Call 711.​

Remote Accessible Vote by Mail System (RAVBM)

View video about how to vote for voters with disabilities

The RAVBM system will be available starting 29 days before the election. You must be a registered voter to use the system. Your voted ballot must be returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day or postmarked on or before election day and received no later than 7 days after Election Day.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Voter Accessibility Meeting on October 3rd, 2022. As requested, the two PowerPoint presentations that were shown can be found below. The recording of the presentation will be available soon.

View voter accessibility workshop

View voter accessibility resources

Is the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail System Available to All Registered Voters?

Yes. California law permits all registered voters to use the RAVBM system for every election beginning in 2022, regardless of whether the voter is a voter with disabilities or a military or overseas voter.

Are There Options to Vote by Mail That Are Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities?

View video about accessible vote by mail for voters with disabilities

Yes, voters with disabilities may use the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system to access and vote their ballots independently and privately. Instead of using a paper Vote by Mail ballot, you can access an electronic version of your ballot, which can be marked using your own assistive technology at home. When you are done, you must print your ballot and it can be returned in your original blue vote by mail envelope with your signature to the Registrar of Voters for your ballot to be counted. To preserve your privacy and security, your ballot selections are not transmitted electronically through the Internet.​

Is the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail System Available to Military and Overseas Voters?

Yes, military or overseas may use the Remote Accessible Vote by Mail system​ to access and vote their ballots independently and privately. Instead of using a paper vote by mail ballot, you can access an electronic version of your ballot. When you are done, you must print your ballot and it can be returned in your original vote by mail envelope with your signature to the Registrar of Voters for your ballot to be counted. To preserve your privacy and security, your ballot selections are not transmitted electronically through the Internet.

Remote Accessible Vote by Mail

All voters can directly access to the Remote Accessible Ballot starting 29 days before the election. Additionally, for voters requesting the delivery of an Emergency Ballot pursuant to Elections Code section 3021, RAVBM access can also be provided as a form of delivery of the ballot by the elections official.