Voters With Disabilities

Submitted by Jeri Gue on Wed, 09/18/2019 - 16:29
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I received an email today from the National Center for Learning Disabilities that provided some interesting (paraphrased) information:

  • As many as 35 million voters with disabilities could vote in the 2020 elections.
  • Voting is a way that your individual advocacy (the voices of the disability community) can contribute to the strength of our democracy.
  • NCLD believes that every person has a voice and can impact policies and laws to support the nearly 1 in 5 (people who have a disability in the US).
  • Advocates before us have fought tirelessly for our right to inclusive and accessible voting.

September 24th is National Voter Registration Day.  Students with and without disabilities can get information on how to vote in each state at vote411.org

Are you incorporating voting rights in your civics education?  Do you have students with disabilities who need encouragement to vote?  How do you spread the word about National Voter Registration Day in your programs?

Please share your thoughts and ideas!

Jeri

Comments

Thank you for highlighting National Voter Registration Day, Jeri.  This is an important topic for all eligible voters, but especially for individuals with disabilities.  If you're working to create greater access for your learners with disabilities to participate in elections, you should be aware of both their rights and their eligible accommodations.       

As a voter with a disability, you have the right to: 

  • Vote privately and independently
  • Have an accessible polling place with voting machines for voters with disabilities 

You may either:

  1. Seek assistance from workers at the polling place who have been trained to use the accessible voting machine, or
  2. Bring someone to help you vote 

Learn more: You may request your local election officials to tell you about any voting aids, voting assistance, and absentee ballot procedures that are available. 

Ensure your right to accessible elections. For more information, contact the U.S. Election Assistance Commission By phone at 866-747-1471 or by email at listen@eac.gov.

QR Code links to:  https://www.eac.gov/QR/fedvtrights.aspx