National Voter Registration Act Implementation

If Americans with disabilities vote at the same rate as people without disabilities there would be at least five million additional votes cast November 7, 2000. A major reason for the failure of most Americans with disabilities to vote is they are not registered to vote. With Rights Come Responsibilities.

• In 1993 the National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter) was signed into law.
• Section 7a of the NVRA requires all public and private agencies serving people with disabilities to offer voter registration to their clients at in-take, re-certification, and change of address. If an agency's services are not provided in agency offices the person who provides itinerant services must also offer voter registration services.
• If the individual declines to register to vote the agency must obtain the individual's signature on a declination form and keep that form on file for 22 months.
• Some agencies, but by no means all, that are covered under this law include: Vocational/Rehabilitation; Special Education; Commissions for the Deaf and the Blind; Para-transit Providers; Independent Living Centers; Disability Specific Service Providers such as ARCs, MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Associations, etc.
• Most disability agencies are in violation of the NVRA. A 1998 National Organization on Disability/Harris poll reports that only 25% of people with disabilities have been asked by a service provider to register to vote.
• Contact the service providers in your area and ask the questions on the following questionnaire.

CHECK OUT N.O.D. WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

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National Voter Registration Act
Implementation Questionnaire Form

Agency Name: _________________________________________________________

Agency Address: ________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Agency Phone: ______________________ Contact Person: _____________________

Date: ____________

Questions:

1) Does your agency offer the opportunity to register to vote to your clients as part of intake?
________ YES __________ NO

2) Does your agency offer the opportunity to register to vote to your clients as they receive services from your agency?
_______ YES __________ NO

3) Does your agency keep records of those clients who decline to register to vote?
________ YES __________ NO

4) Who in your agency is in charge of ensuring that your agency complies with the National Voter Registration Act?

________________________________________

Name of surveyor: ____________________________

Address: _________________________________

_________________________________

Phone Number: _____________________

Please return this information to:
Jim Dickson
V.P. of Governmental Affairs
AAPD Disability Vote Project
1629 K Street, NW, Suite 503
Washington, DC 20006
V/TTY: 202-457-0046
V/TTY: 800-840-8844
FAX: 202-457-0473
AAPD Website

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