# California Mail Ballot System Excludes Disabled Voters

> Federal court rules California’s mail ballot system excludes disabled voters.
- Title: California Mail Ballot System Excludes Disabled Voters
- Summary: Federal court rules California’s mail ballot system excludes disabled voters. A federal court ruled California’s mail ballot system excludes disabled voters…
- Keywords: california, mail ballot, disabled voters, federal court, vote by mail, electronic ballot, print disability, blind voters, seahawks, nfl, Mail, Ballot
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/californias-mail-ballot-system-excludes-disabled-voters-court-rules
- Author: Sophie Hurwitz
- Published: 2026-10-06T12:38:31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: california, mail ballot, disabled voters, federal court, vote by mail, electronic ballot, print disability, blind voters, seahawks, nfl
## Federal court rules
A federal court struck down a California rule requiring voters to sign and return paper mail ballots.
## Disabled voters face barriers
Voters with print disabilities cannot return ballots without assistance under current mail ballot rules.
## Christopher Gray's challenge
Christopher Gray, a blind plaintiff, cannot vote without assistance due to printing and signing requirements.
## Gray's 2022 experience
Gray paid an assistant to fill out his ballot in 2022 but lost ballot privacy and certainty.
## Court ruling details
The court ruled the system excludes disabled voters and denies them meaningful access to mail ballots.
## Next steps for California
California has until October 19 to propose new mail ballot rules, but changes won’t take effect until next election.
## Key takeaway

A federal court ruled California’s mail ballot system excludes disabled voters, requiring them to return ballots via non-electronic means that many cannot complete independently.