Increasing
voter education and participation
among people
with intellectual and developmental
disabilities
FACTS
Over 35 million eligible voters
are people with disabilities
Over 27 million eligible voters
are family members sharing a household with a person with a disability
*****
Only 31.7% of people
with intellectual and developmental disabilities
voted in 2016,
compared to 61.4% of all Americans.
*US Census and 2017-2018 National Core Indicators Project
THE GOOD NEWS
VOTER TURNOUT AMONG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
INCREASED FROM 2014 TO 2018
Voter turnout surged by 8.5 points in 2018 among citizens with disabilities relative to the 2014 midterm elections. The surge, though, was slightly larger among citizens without disabilities (11.9 points), resulting in a 4.7 point gap in voter turnout between citizens with and without disabilities in 2018.
The increased turnout among people with disabilities occurred across all disability types and demographic categories—gender, race/ethnicity, age group, and region.
14.3 million citizens with disabilities reported voting in the November 2018 elections.
Employed people with disabilities were just as likely as employed people without disabilities to vote, suggesting that employment helps bring people with disabilities into mainstream political life.
If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities who have the same demographic characteristics, there would be about 2.35 million more voters.
WHAT CAN I DO?
THERE ARE MANY WAYS
YOU CAN MAKE SURE
THAT YOU & THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT CAN VOTE
IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION
CHECK THE REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR YOUR STATE
REGISTER TO VOTE
CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION, EVEN IF YOU HAVE VOTED PREVIOUSLY
REQUEST AN ABSENTEE OR MAIL-IN BALLOT IF YOU PREFER TO VOTE THIS WAY
VOTE BY MAIL IF YOU PREFER. SEND YOUR BALLOT IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO INSURE THAT IT ARRIVES IN TIME TO BE COUNTED. YOU CAN ALSO DROP IT IN A NEARBY BALLOT BOX
GET ELECTION REMINDERS
IF YOU WILL NOT BE 18 YEARS OLD BEFORE ELECTION DAY, PLEDGE TO REGISTER WHEN YOU TURN 18
TELL FRIENDS, FAMILY, TEACHERS, COWORKERS, SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS THAT YOU WILL BE VOTING AND ASK IF THEY WILL PLEDGE TO VOTE TOO
REGISTER TODAY, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
REGISTER TODAY TO VOTE
IN PERSON, ONLINE, OR BY MAIL
CHECK THE OPTIONS IN YOUR STATE
IN PERSON
YOU CAN REGISTER IN PERSON
AT A LIBRARY, POST OFFICE, STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE,
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
CALL AHEAD OR CHECK ONLINE
TO FIND OUT WHAT DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED TO BRING WITH YOU.
ONLINE
YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE USING THE LINK BELOW
BY MAIL
PRINT A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION AND RETURN IT BY MAIL
IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION, ALLOW EXTRA TIME FOR DELIVERY OF YOUR APPLICATION BY THE US POSTAL SERVICE
Mail your application to the address listed under your State in the State Instructions. Or, deliver the application in person to your local voter registration office. The States that are required to accept the national form will accept copies of the application printed from the computer image on regular paper stock, signed by the applicant, and mailed in an envelope with the correct postage.
First Time Voters Who Register by Mail
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, Federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote.
Proof of identification includes:
A current and valid photo identification or
A current utility bill, bank statement, government
check, paycheck or government document that
shows your name and address.
Voters may be exempt from this requirement if they submit a COPY of this identification with their mail in voter registration form.
If you wish to submit a COPY, please keep the following in mind:
Your state may have additional identification
requirements which may mandate you show identification at the polling place even if you meet the Federal proof of identification.
Do not submit original documents with this application, only COPIES.
WHAT CAN I DO TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION?
TELL FAMILY, FRIENDS, TEACHERS, COWORKERS, SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHERS WHOM YOU CARE ABOUT THAT THEIR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
MANY STATES OFFER EARLY VOTING
CHECK YOURS USING THIS LINK
VOTE
IN PERSON
OR
BY MAIL
THE CHOICE IS YOURS.
THERE ARE THINGS TO CONSIDER
ABOUT EACH OPTION...
THINGS TO CONSIDER IF YOU PLAN TO VOTE IN PERSON
KNOW YOUR VOTING LOCATION AND HOURS
DECIDE HOW YOU WILL GET TO YOUR POLLING PLACE. WILL YOU DRIVE? WALK? BIKE? TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? GET A RIDE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND?
CONSIDER INVITING ANOTHER TRUSTED ADULT TO ACCOMPANY YOU SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE TOO
WEAR A MASK THAT COVERS YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH AND CONSIDER BRINGING HAND SANITIZER WITH YOU
BE SURE TO STAY AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE IN PUBLIC
REMEMBER YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. NO ONE ELSE CAN TELL YOU WHO TO VOTE FOR. THE DECISION IS YOURS.
THINGS TO CONSIDER IF YOU PLAN TO VOTE BY MAIL
REQUEST YOUR ABSENTEE OR MAIL-IN BALLOT TODAY. EXPECT DELAYS IN MAIL DELIVERY, SO ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO RECEIVE YOUR BALLOT.
CONSIDER ANY ACCOMMODATIONS OR ASSISTANCE YOU MAY WANT TO COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT.
COMPLETE YOUR BALLOT AND RETURN IT BY MAIL OR DROP IT IN AN OFFICIAL BALLOT BOX NEAR YOU. EXPECT DELAYS IN THE US POSTAL SERVICE AND ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR BALLOT TO BE DELIVERED.
REMEMBER, YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE. NO ONE ELSE CAN TELL YOU WHO TO VOTE FOR. THE DECISION IS YOURS.
THE IMPACT OF GUARDIANSHIP ON VOTING RIGHTS
REQUEST ELECTION REMINDERS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
REV UP CAMPAIGN OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
AAPD’s REV UP Campaign works to increase voter registration and engagement by working to eliminate barriers to the polls and voter suppression
NATIONAL DISABILITY RIGHTS NETWORK
The National Disability Rights Network works in Washington, DC on behalf of the Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) and Client Assistance Programs (CAPs), the nation’s largest providers of legal advocacy services for people with disabilities.
NDRN promotes the network’s capacity, ensures that P&As/CAPs remain strong and effective by providing training and technical assistance, and advocates for laws protecting the civil and human rights of all people with disabilities.
WHEN WE ALL VOTE
When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
VOTE.ORG
Vote.org uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy.
VOTE411.ORG
VOTE411 is committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to successfully participate in every election. Whether it's local, state or federal, every election is important to ensuring our laws and policies reflect the values and beliefs of our communities.
NONPROFITVOTE.ORG
Founded in 2005, Nonprofit VOTE partners with America’s nonprofits to help the people they serve participate and vote. We are the leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ONE VOTE NOW
OneVoteNow.org is here to help make sure you can exercise your right to vote because nothing should block your ability to participate in our democracy. Elections should be equally accessible for all Americans—including the disability community. Elections are more fair when they represent all of us.
ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY CENTERS ON DISABILITIES
A network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
EASTERSEALS
For more than 100 years, Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors and their families.
YOU ARE ENTITLED TO ACCOMMODATIONS
IN ORDER TO VOTE
EXAMPLES INCLUDE HEADPHONES, A TOUCHSCREEN TO ENLARGE TEST SIZE, A BRAILLE BALLOT, AND MORE
HOLD A SMART PHONE UP TO THIS QR code,
AS IF YOU ARE TAKING A PICTURE, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT VOTING
HAVE VOTING QUESTIONS?
CALL 866-OURVOTE
TO GET ANSWERS
If you face issues at any point during the registration or voting process, contact the Election Protection Coalition at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)
NOT OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE YET?
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE A REMINDER TO REGISTER ON YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY
Justin Dart, Co-founder of the ADA and the American Association of People with Disabilities
FINALLY...
SHARE THAT YOU ARE A VOTER!
Be proud of your commitment to vote in the 2020 election!
Tell friends, family members, coworkers, support professionals, and community members that your voice counts!
VOTE-ABILITY
Make your voice heard. Vote.
