Disability Justice

Nothing about us without us!

One in five people who are eligible to vote has a disability. While the expansion of mail-in voting is a step forward, people with disabilities continue to vote at disproportionately low rates. If disabled people voted at the same rate as those without disabilities, an additional 1.75 million people would have voted in the 2020 General Election.

Voting access varies widely across the country and states continue to pass increasingly restrictive voting laws. Each barrier makes it more difficult for disabled people to participate in elections, silencing an entire population who are now unable to vote for their candidates of choice or influence policies that affect their daily lives. For a healthy democracy to thrive, people with disabilities must have the ability to cast their ballots as independently as possible.

Our Work

Keystone Progress Education Fund is working closely with the disability community to increase access to voting and civic life across Southwestern Pennsylvania. We are always looking to develop new partnerships and recruit volunteers. If you are interested in getting involved, or want to learn more about our work, please keep reading and use the button below to get in touch!

  • KPEF provides education about the rights of disabled voters to community groups, civic engagement organizations, and long-term care providers.

  • KPEF partners with the staff and residents of long-term care facilities to organize comprehensive voter registration (and mail-in ballot) drives, provide hands-on training to staff, and co-develop systems and strategies to reach every eligible voter and track our progress.

  • Thanks to support from the National Polling Access Audit Coalition, KPEF will be conducting our first polling place access audit in Allegheny County on November 3, 2026.

Learn more and get involved with our work!

Important Dates for PA Elections in 2026

General Election: Tuesday, November 3

Polls are open from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

The last day to register to vote for the General Election is Monday, October 19, 2026.

The deadline to request a mail-in/absentee ballot for the General Election is Tuesday, October 26 at 5:00 PM.

The deadline to return completed mail-in/absentee ballots to is Tuesday, November 3 at 8:00 PM.

Please note that the county board of elections must receive completed ballots by this deadline. Postmarks do not count.

Primary Election: Tuesday, May 19

Polls are open from 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM.

The last day to register to vote for the Primary Election is Monday, May 4, 2026.

The deadline to request a mail-in/absentee ballot for the Primary Election is Tuesday, May 12 at 5:00 PM.

The deadline to return completed mail-in/absentee ballots to the county board of elections is Tuesday, May 19 at 8:00 PM.

Please note that the county board of elections must receive completed ballots by this deadline. Postmarks do not count.

Register to Vote or Request a Mail-in Ballot

We are able to do our disability justice work thanks to the generous support of the FISA Foundation, Pennsylvania Voice, the American Association of People with Disabilities, Borealis Philanthropy, and the National Polling Access Audit Coalition.