Download POLL MANAGERS HANDBOOK

Photo ID Questions and Answers
21
Photo ID Questions and Answers
“What is a reasonable impediment?”
By asking the voter if there is “an obstacle that prevented you from getting one of the necessary photo IDs,” the manager is determining if the voter wishes to claim the “reasonable impediment” exception to providing photo ID at the polling place.
If the voter doesn’t understand reasonable impediment, the manager should explain that a reasonable impediment is any obstacle that prevented the voter from obtaining any one of the qualifying
photo IDs. Some reasonable impediments may include:
•A religious objection to being photographed
•Disability or illness
•Work schedule
•Lack of transportation
•Lack of birth certificate
•Family responsibilities
•Any other obstacle the voter finds reasonable
“I have a reasonable impediment” or “I have a good reason for not having a photo ID” or
any similar statement.
Manager must consider such statements by the voter as a “yes” answer to the reasonable impediment question. Manager should follow procedure for voter answering “yes’ under “Voter Without
Qualifying Photo Identification” in the Election Day Issue Section.
“Can I just say I don’t have a car?” or “I have kids, is that reason enough?” or “I just
don’t have time. Can I claim that?” or similar questions.
Manager should explain that the voter may claim any obstacle to obtaining a qualifying ID that he
finds reasonable as long as it is true. Only the voter determines what is reasonable. In other words,
only the voter can say whether any particular obstacle created a reasonable impediment to obtaining
a photo ID. Managers and other election officials do not determine the reasonableness of the claimed
impediment.
“Will my vote count?”
A provisional ballot cast under the reasonable impediment exception will count unless the county