In a move designed to uphold the democratic linchpin of equitable access to voting, the Justice Department has reached a settlement with Colorado County, Texas, over claims that the county's election website was not accessible to people with disabilities. The settlement addresses violations under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as noted by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. "The right to vote is a right all American citizens exercise, including individuals with visual or manual disabilities," Hamdani stated, emphasizing the importance of inclusive access to election information.

Following the agreement, Colorado County is now set to ensure that all online content related to elections will be accessible to those with disabilities. This includes both existing online material and any upcoming updates. To achieve this, the county has agreed to take a series of proactive measures. These measures include hiring an independent auditor set to evaluate the website's accessibility and providing notifications on the site to actively encourage feedback regarding any accessibility barriers. Furthermore, the county will assign an employee the task to specifically coordinate these efforts, alongside revising procedures and training staff appropriately.

The county’s election website serves as a crucial hub for voters, offering details on registration requirements, identification needs, and tailored voting information for people with disabilities. It also provides links to essential data, such as early voting schedules and Election Day logistics.

As part of the Department of Justice's ongoing ADA Voting Initiative, aimed to protect voting rights for individuals with disabilities, this settlement advances the wider objectives of the department's Tech Equity Initiative. This broader initiative is dedicated to address and rectify disability discrimination proliferating through digital domains like websites and mobile applications. The Southern District of Texas, as outlined by the DOJ, remains firmly committed to the stringent enforcement of the ADA's provisions.

The matter was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Karpati, whose efforts have now cemented a commitment from Colorado County to bridge the digital gap and foster a more inclusive election process for all eligible voters, irrespective of their physical abilities.