RALEIGH, N.C. — The State Board of Elections is providing a new voting portal for the visually impaired. 

Over the summer, disability organizations filed a lawsuit saying the voting options for the blind were not in compliance with federal laws. 

“It means much to me, personally, and our community, that we have the same treatment in terms of access to the ballot as everyone else," said Dr. Ricky Scott, an advocate for the visually impaired. "It was a matter of us being able to vote privately and independently just like everyone else.”

Dr. Scott is part of the lawsuit that was filed over the summer against the State Board of Elections. They believe the voting options discriminated against voters with disabilities from privately marking a ballot due to their vision, and a judge agreed. 

“Especially with COVID coming up as it did, that added an urgency to it because there are people with underlying health conditions and we certainly wanted to have accessible voting as an option for people who are blind or visually impaired,” Dr. Scott said.

Now, a voter can go to the State Board of Elections website, identify themselves as the voter, and a ballot can be securely authorized. 

“We have had this in place for our military and overseas voters to electronically cast their ballots and the visually impaired now have that option," said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of NC State Board of Elections. "They have tools, readers, they are able to use with their visual impairment to cast their ballot electronically.”

Dr. Scott says he has already used the portal to request his ballot, and is happy this measure is providing greater access to those who are able to vote. 

“That’s a basic, fundamental way that we are able to be a voice to our views and our ideas is through the ballot box," Dr. Scott said. "That’s what this country is all about. And that’s what I work to advance, that we are all included.” 

The deadline to request an online ballot has passed; however, those who have requested a ballot already will have until 5 p.m. on Election Day to submit their ballot online.