---
kind: "section"
citation: "52 U.S.C. § 20104"
title: "52"
title_heading: "Voting and Elections"
number: "20104"
heading: "Registration and voting aids"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/52/20104"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration"
  - "Chapter 201 — Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped"
---

# §20104. Registration and voting aids

- (a) **Printed instructions; telecommunications devices for the deaf—** Each [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) shall make available registration and voting aids for [Federal elections](/usc/52/20107.md?p=3) for [handicapped](/usc/52/20107.md?p=4) and [elderly](/usc/52/20107.md?p=2) individuals, including—
  - (1) instructions, printed in large type, conspicuously displayed at each permanent registration facility and each polling place; and
  - (2) information by telecommunications devices for the deaf.
- (b) **Medical certification—** No notarization or medical certification shall be required of a [handicapped](/usc/52/20107.md?p=4) voter with respect to an absentee ballot or an application for such ballot, except that medical certification may be required when the certification establishes eligibility, under [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) law—
  - (1) to automatically receive an application or a ballot on a continuing basis; or
  - (2) to apply for an absentee ballot after the deadline has passed.
- (c) **Notice of availability of aids—** The chief [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) officer of each [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) shall provide public notice, calculated to reach [elderly](/usc/52/20107.md?p=2) and [handicapped](/usc/52/20107.md?p=4) voters, of the availability of aids under this section, assistance under [section 10508 of this title](/usc/52/10508.md), and the procedures for voting by absentee ballot, not later than general public notice of registration and voting is provided.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–435, § 5, Sept. 28, 1984, 98 Stat. 1679.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1973ee–3 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section applicable with respect to elections taking place after Dec. 31, 1985, see section 9 of Pub. L. 98–435, set out as a note under section 20101 of this title.