We’re pleased to feature this blog co-written by Dessa Cosma, Executive Director of Detroit Disability Power, and Monique Stanton, President & CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. A version of this column originally appeared in Michigan Advance.
Dessa Cosma
Monique Stanton
There is much excitement that comes with an Election Day in Michigan.
It’s an opportunity for all of us–no matter our background or political affiliation–to decide as an electorate on the important issues of the day and on who will represent us at the various levels of government. And it’s a day when we can fully engage in our democracy and exercise a right that many in our country had to fight hard to receive.
And, yet, Election Day access barriers still exist for far too many people with disabilities in our state and country today.
During the November 8, 2022 General Election, Detroit Disability Power partnered with The Carter Center to conduct an audit of 261 polling locations across 15 jurisdictions in Metro Detroit to determine whether they were accessible as required by law. The audit results were nothing short of dismal and troubling. Despite there being between 1.5 to 2 million residents in Michigan with a disability and approximately 129,000 residents with disabilities in Detroit alone, only 16% of the 261 polling locations audited were fully accessible.
The audit revealed issues with parking, pathways into buildings, building entrances, Voter Assist Terminals (VATs) and accessible voting booths. Specific examples of issues observed by the audit volunteers included severely cracked sidewalks, uneven concrete, street-only parking with limited or no accessible parking spots, a lack of good signage to accessible entrances, accessible ramps blocked by cars, entrances with stairs and no ramps, VATs with error codes, VATs without paper or headphones/controllers, VATs that were unplugged, VATs that were placed in a way that did not ensure secrecy and a lack of fully set up or readily available accessible voting booths.
The good news is that 67 of the polling locations that were audited only had one access barrier or impediment, which means that correcting that singular issue for each of the 67 locations would raise the percentage of fully accessible voting locations in Metro Detroit from 16% to 42%. And, most of the issues observed at the polling locations in all 15 jurisdictions could be easily corrected at little to no cost through better training, commitment and intentionality.
Here at Detroit Disability Power and the Michigan League for Public Policy we have long advocated for making voting easy, secure and accessible for all eligible voters, including voters with disabilities. The voting rights of people with disabilities are just as important as the rights of any other voter and there are laws in place that protect those rights. And, yet, while the protections are clearly defined in the Voting Rights Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Help America Vote Act, these laws are only effective if there is also proper education and accountability.
Going forward, it is our hope that the audit report can be used as a roadmap by local clerks when training their election inspectors and preparing and setting up for Election Day. Voting access should also be kept top of mind when jurisdictions select alternative polling locations, as permitted under a new Michigan law, so that current issues are not replicated. Increased coordination between election management jurisdictions and the state is also recommended.
While last year’s audit focused on polling locations in and around the Motor City, we know that this isn’t just a Metro Detroit issue. A lack of accessibility at the polls is an issue that exists across our state and country, with national data from 2016 showing that 60% of polling locations in the U.S. had at least one access barrier or impediment. Recognizing the tremendous value of the data that was gathered during the 2022 audit to help push for real, lasting change, Detroit Disability Power is now working with partners across the nation to conduct similar audits in their states and is also planning to conduct another audit in Michigan in 2024.
Because the bottom line is this: people with disabilities are a sizable part of our electorate and they cannot and should not be left behind. Breaking down barriers to voting would have a huge impact on their ability to fully engage in our democracy and, ultimately, on how well they are represented by our government at the local, state and federal level.
This week is Disability Voting Rights Week, and there are opportunities for all of us to work together to protect the voting rights of the millions of people in our country with a disability or disabilities. Working together, we can ensure that all Americans’ voices are heard at the polls.
Here are some opportunities for engagement with Detroit Disability Power during Disability Voting Rights Week and beyond:
- On Wednesday, Sept. 13, Detroit Disability Power Executive Director Dessa Cosma will be speaking on a panel organized by Disability Rights Florida entitled “Disabled in Politics, Elections & Leadership.” Learn more and reserve a spot here.
- On Monday, Sept. 25, Detroit Disability Power will be hosting a “train the trainer” workshop on how to replicate poll site audits. Learn more and RSVP here.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
