VOTE as if your life depends on it''

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VOTE! as if your life depends on it..

• Faith Gross
• The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and
  Older People

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Vote as if your life depends on it. Because it
does.
Justin Dart, patriot and disability rights hero
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WHY SHOULD WE VOTE?

• People with disabilities have a real interest in
  the outcome of elections!
• Why?

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VOTING AND DISABILITY

• Historically, people with disabilities have
  voted at a lower rate than the general voting age
  population.

WHY?
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VOTING AND DISABILITY ISSUES

• Denied the right to vote or register to vote
• Poll worker attitudes/education
• Voter attitudes/education
• Privacy and independence

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VOTING AND DISABILITY ISSUES

• Access to polling places
• Accessible ballot
• Accessible information
• Accessible voting systems

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FEDERAL LAWS

• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
• Prohibits discrimination on the basis of
  disability by any entity in receipt of federal
  funds
• Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and
  Handicapped Act of 1984
• Generally requires polling places be physically
  accessible or provision of alternate access for
  registering and voting in federal elections

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FEDERAL LAWS- ADA

• Americans With Disabilities Act, 1990
• Prohibits disability based discrimination in
  employment, state and local government, public
  accommodations, commercial facilities,
  transportation and telecommunications.
• Extends the protections under Sec. 504
• Covers all activities, programs and services of
  state and local governments regardless of size or
  receipt of federal funds

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FEDERAL LAWS -ADA

• Must relocate programs, services and activities
  in older inaccessible buildings
• Effective communication with people with hearing,
  vision or speech disabilities
• Reasonable modifications to policies, practices
  and procedures

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FEDERAL LAWS -NVRA

• National Voter Registration Act
• Purpose is to increase historically low
  registration rates of people with disabilities
  resulting from discrimination
• Requires all State-funded programs primarily
  engaged in providing services to people with
  disabilities to offer voter registration, etc.
• Other non-government agencies serving people with
  disabilities

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HAVA

• Help America Vote Act 2002

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HAVA and VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES

• Passed in 2002 to improve the administration of
  federal elections
• Authorized a new protection and advocacy program
  to protect the voting rights of citizens with
  disabilities (PAVA)
• Requires accessible voting, voting systems and
  polling places

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COLORADO

• State law also requires accessible voting

What about your state?
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ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

• Make polling places accessible, with same
  opportunity for access/participation for people
  with the full range of disabilities
• Provide outreach and information about
  accessibility of polling places

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ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS

• Train election officials, poll workers and
  election volunteers on promoting access and
  participation of PWD in elections for federal
  offices

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HAVA

• Voting System Standards
• Must be accessible for PWD including non-visual
  access for blind and visually impaired
• Same opportunity for access and participation
  including privacy and independence

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VOTE! WISE

• All first-time voters must provide ID when voting
• Many states now require ID every time you vote.
• Make sure you bring your ID with you when you go
  to vote!

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VOTING RIGHTS

• To register to vote
• Access to your polling place and voting systems
• To vote in private and without assistance
• To vote by mail or absentee ballot
• To vote during early voting

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VOTING RIGHTS

• Cast a provisional ballot and be informed about
  election officials decision regarding that
  ballot
• To request and receive assistance with
  registering to vote and casting your vote

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VOTE!

• Are you registered to VOTE!?
• EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

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ELECTION-RELATED ACTIVITES

• Voter registration and education
• Take a position on ballot issues
• Candidate Forums
• Bi-partisan, no endorsement of any candidate
• Educate all candidates and elected officials on
  disability issues
• Create voter guides (without endorsement of any
  candidate)

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ADVOCACY ISSUES

• Restrictions on the right to vote based on a
  persons disability or label
• Inaccessible voting systems
• Inaccessible paper audit trails
• Voter ID requirements

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ADVOCATE!
Contact Faith Gross, Rights Advocate The Legal
Center for People with Disabilities and Older
People 455 Sherman St. suite 130 Denver, CO
80203 303-722-0300 V 303-722-3619
TTY 800-288-1376 fgross_at_thelegalcenter.org