About

As a committee under the Secretary of State, the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) is responsible for making recommendations for improving access to voting and election materials.

The VAAC is designed to advise, assist, and provide recommendations to the Secretary of State's office as to how voters with disabilities can vote independently and privately. The State's VAAC members have been influential in assisting with numerous projects, including the production of Polling Place Accessibility Guidelines. They have helped raise awareness of disability issues through their involvement in the development of the Voter Accessibility Survey and production of the Polling Place Accessibility Surveyor Training Videos.

Request for Applicants

The Secretary of State is calling for volunteers to serve as committee members on the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee (VAAC) for the 2024-2025 term. The mission of the VAAC is to advise, assist, and provide recommendations to the Secretary of State’s office regarding the implementation of federal and state laws relating to access to the electoral process, so every registered voter can vote independently and privately.

The VAAC membership consists of three county elections officials and five representatives from the disability community who demonstrate an interest and involvement in issues related to voting accessibility and willingness to dedicate no fewer than 20 hours per year to VAAC meetings and activities for a term of two years. Additionally, members may be asked to share information with communities they are affiliated with. VAAC members are volunteers and serve at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

The deadline for applications is November 10, 2023, and appointments will be announced December 2023. Completed applications or requests for applications, information, or other inquiries can be sent by email to VAAC@sos.ca.gov, or by mail to Secretary of State, Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee, 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814.

For more information, please refer to the following Memorandum: https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ccrov/2023/october/23101rr.pdf (PDF)

Meetings

  • The next meeting of the VAAC:
    • TBA

    Meeting Agendas and Minutes

    Contact

    Secretary of State's Office
    Ryan Reece
    (916) 695-1560
    rreece@sos.ca.gov  

     

    To subscribe to meeting notices, ask questions, or give comments, the committee can be reached at the VAAC email address, vaac@sos.ca.gov, or by postal mail at

    VAAC 
    1500 11th Street, 5th Floor 
    Sacramento, CA 95814 

     

    Committee Responsibilities

    The VAAC is responsible under law for a number of objectives. VAAC members lead working groups in order to complete projects that accomplish committee goals. For more information about a project or working group, or to learn about how you can get involved, email vaac@sos.ca.gov.

    The VAAC is responsible for working on:

    • Guidelines for reaching voters with disabilities
    • Recommendations for improving the availability and accessibility of election materials
    • Distribution of public service announcements
    • Recommendations about web accessibility
    • Promoting the voter hotlines
    • Promoting the state and local library services for voters with disabilities
    • Recommendations for improving access and participation
    • Promotion of plain language and alternative formats
    • Recommendations for pollworker training

    County Toolkit

    County Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee Toolkit (PDF)

    This toolkit offers guidelines and practices to help county elections offices establish a VAAC and create a meaningful and helpful role for it to serve voters with specific needs in your community.