Tired of feeling the economic squeeze when you need access to community services for transportation, attendant care, educational resources, and health care? When federal, state, and local budgets feel the pinch, the first services that elected officials cut affect the community that can least afford the budget slash: people with disabilities. There is one very effective way to fight back: Vote!
People with disabilities hold some important distinctions: we make up 20% of Americans over the age of 18; we register to vote in the lowest numbers; and among registered voters, we have the lowest numbers for voter turnout. No wonder people with disabilities bear the consequences of the budget axe-we aren’t getting out to the polls! Elected officials aren’t paying attention because we haven’t mastered the art of making them listen on Election Day.
Important Facts:
• There were 6 million votes cast in the state of Florida in November 2000.
• The winner of the 2000 election was determined by a margin of 537 votes in the state of Florida.
• If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as the able-bodied, 4 million more votes would have been cast in the 2000 election.
• In 2004, there are 271 Republican electoral districts and 260 Democratic electoral districts in the US.
If you thought 2000 was close, the election of 2004 promises to be even closer. There are many in the civil rights arena who feel that the 2004 election will be the most important in our lifetime. Why?
• Supreme Court justices (and federal judges) serve for a lifetime. Currently, most Supreme Court decisions have a 5 to 4 margin.
• It’s conceivable that 4 of the 9 justices will retire or pass away over the next 4 years.
• The next president who appoints Supreme Court justices and federal judges has the capacity to shape constitutional law and scope for the next generation. That includes legal decisions that expand or limit your civil rights and the interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The answer? Get out and vote on November 2, 2004. If you cannot make it to the polls, contact your registrar of voters ASAP to request an absentee ballot. Only 52% of Americans exercise their franchise to vote. For people with disabilities, the numbers are even lower and we are the largest minority group (40 million voters) in the country! When organized and motivated, however, that figure jumps to over 70% for people with disabilities who turn out to vote.
Want more power with elected officials, regardless of who gets elected? Register other voters and turn out their votes!
Elected officials respond to the groups that take the time to register voters in their district. When you want someone to listen to your concerns on an issue, the way to get a response is to communicate that your community registered 500 or 5,000 or 50,000 voters in that official’s municipality, district, or state. Not only will they pay attention to you as an organizer, they will consider changing their vote. They want to stay in office. That’s how voting influences the votes of elected officials.
Voting is important because it is a concise way to advocate your position. What are the important issues in your community? Housing? Transportation? Employment? Services targeted to meet the needs of the disability community? These are the reasons why people with disabilities need to vote. It starts at your doorstep. Vote on Election Day November 2.
Voting ID Tips
Be sure to bring identification when you vote, especially if you are a new registrant. Your ID must include your name and address. Government-issued IDs, such as state ID cards and drivers’ licenses, are acceptable, also utility bills (because they show your name and address), bank correspondences that show your name and address, or letters from government agencies that show your name and address. It can be your phone or electric bill, Section 8 voucher or a letter from the Social Security Administration.
Hassled at the Polls?
If you are prevented from voting on Election Day or are hassled at the polls, call Election Protection at 1-866-Our-Vote (866-687-8683). There are 6,000 attorneys ready to make sure you get to vote on Election Day and willing to assist you in solving any problems.
Volunteer to be a Poll Worker
Did you know the age of the average poll worker in the US is 72? Poll worker volunteers are paid by the county or municipality for the day and the income does not affect your disability income. One of the surest ways to increase disability sensitivity among poll workers is to volunteer in the electoral process. Contact your county registrar of voters ASAP to volunteer.
Election Day Complaints
The Department of Justice wants to know if there are difficulties at the polls. If you need to make a complaint, clearly describe the situation and include the exact address of the polling place, the name of the poll worker, and the county and state in which it occurred. You can send it to John Wodatch, Chief of Disability Rights, DOJ, Civil Rights Division, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 4039, Washington, DC 20530, or send an e-mail to john.l.wodatch@usdoj.gov.
Angela Katsakis is the Disability Vote Project Coordinator for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). She can be reached by e-mail at aapdvote@earthlink.net. Please visit our Web site at www.aapd-dc.org for more information about the Disability Vote Project and AAPD.
