---
kind: "section"
citation: "52 U.S.C. § 21021"
title: "52"
title_heading: "Voting and Elections"
number: "21021"
heading: "Payments to States and units of local government to assure access for individuals with disabilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/52/21021"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Voting Assistance and Election Administration"
  - "Chapter 209 — Election Administration Improvement"
  - "Subchapter II — Commission"
  - "Part D — Election Assistance"
  - "Subpart 2 — payments to states and units of local government to assure access for individuals with disabilities"
---

# §21021. Payments to States and units of local government to assure access for individuals with disabilities

- (a) **In general—** The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make a payment to each eligible [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) and each eligible unit of local government (as described in [section 21023 of this title](/usc/52/21023.md)).
- (b) **Use of funds—** An eligible [State](/usc/52/20107.md?p=5) and eligible unit of local government shall use the payment received under this subpart for—
  - (1) making polling places, including the path of travel, entrances, exits, and voting areas of each polling facility, [accessible](/usc/52/20107.md?p=1) to individuals with disabilities, including the blind and visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters; and
  - (2) providing individuals with disabilities and the other individuals described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) with information about the accessibility of polling places, including outreach programs to inform the individuals about the availability of [accessible](/usc/52/20107.md?p=1) polling places and training [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) officials, poll workers, and [election](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) volunteers on how best to promote the access and participation of individuals with disabilities in [elections](/usc/52/20502.md?p=1) for [Federal office](/usc/52/20310.md?p=3).
- (c) **Schedule of payments—** As soon as practicable after October 29, 2002 (but in no event later than 6 months thereafter), and not less frequently than once each calendar year thereafter, the Secretary shall make payments under this subpart.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–252, title II, § 261, Oct. 29, 2002, 116 Stat. 1698.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 15421 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.