The Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN) developed a bilingual digital voting toolkit specifically for the upcoming U.S. midterm elections to support trans and neurodivergent voters. This project reflects the current electoral landscape where changing ID requirements and accessibility concerns at polling sites often create significant barriers for community members. By providing clear, accessible information in both English and Spanish, the AWN is ensuring that trans and disabled voters have the practical knowledge they need to navigate the voting process and exercise their rights safely.
The guides focus on the logistics of election safety and identification, including how to handle interactions at the polls and the right to use a provisional ballot if registration or ID is challenged. By moving beyond basic registration instructions, the guides address the actual sensory and systemic hurdles people face on election day. They are designed with neurodivergent accessibility in mind, using a straightforward digital format that is easy to navigate and less overwhelming than traditional voting resource materials.
The AWN’s 5 guides include:
- How to Vote – registration and ID requirements, planning to vote, and voting by mail and in-person
- Voting for Disabled Voters
- Voting for Transgender Voters
- Voting for Unhoused Voters
- Language Accessibility Guide
Members of the Digital Accessible Futures Lab assisted with brainstorming accessible design features, copy editing, and creating plain text copies of the guides.