BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Super Tuesday is four days away. Tens of thousands of voters across East Tennessee are expected to cast ballots.
Federal law is in place to ensure anyone eligible to vote, has a chance to cast a ballot.
"We do surveys before the election, making sure that, you know, everything is you know, is ADA compliant, that folks can easily access the locations, and they can vote independently and privately," said Mark Stephens, the administrator of elections for Anderson County.
Many counties offer a way for those with low vision to hear the candidates.
"There is actually a process of headphones that the ballot will actually be interactive and can speak to the voter," said Stephens.
Moe Click, the Elections Deputy for the Blount County Election Commission, said most of the time in his county, people who need assistance with voting usually bring someone with them or get help from a poll worker. He said those who feel the polling places aren't accessible can absentee vote.
He said there are also accommodations that can be made for those voting in person.
"Voting machines are different in different counties, you're gonna see different things," said Click. "But plugging into the back of the handicap-accessible machine, it will actually plug into any machine. It is a simple little device. If you have trouble with a touchscreen, you can literally scroll with a dial and make your selections with a button. And actually, one thing I didn't show you is in the back of that machine, there's a jack for headphone jack, for somebody who would need that type of assistance."
He added there are also accommodations for those who need a poll machine to be closer to the ground.
"Now, as it comes to the polling place, when you go into a polling location, it's going to be set up," said Click. "So it's an easy, kind of clear pathway. The last machine that you're going to see set up is going to be your handicap-accessible machine. The main way that set up is it's on a lower stand with a wider base to it. So it gives wheelchair accessibility."
Click and Stephens both said it's important to be ADA compliant so that everyone has a right to participate in local, state, and presidential elections.
"It's important that everybody that is willing, or that's eligible to vote can vote," said Stephens. "Whether they choose to vote by absentee ballot, or they vote, they want to go to a precinct and, and vote, whether it's early or on election day, it's very important that we try and give everybody the opportunity to be able to do that. You know, voting, of course, is a ride, but it's also a privilege. And we want everybody that is wanting to do that... we want definitely are doing things to encourage them to come out and vote."
The voting process varies from county to county. If you'd like to find out polling hours or what accommodations are available to help you vote, contact your local county's election commission.