REV UP for National Disability Voter Registration Week 2017
May 17, 2017 | Zach Baldwin
The REV UP Campaign coordinates National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) each year to increase the political power of people with disabilities while also engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community. This year NDVRW will be held on July 17-21, 2017.
National Disability Voter Registration Week 2017 – Organizing Call
June 9, 2017 | 1pm ET
To prepare for NDVRW on July 17-21, the REV UP Campaign will host a National Organizing Call on Friday, June 9 at 1pm Eastern Time. During this call, we will discuss the REV UP Campaign’s state coalition strategy, general voter registration strategies, and examples from current REV UP state partners. There will also be an opportunity for participants to ask questions. Register for the NDVRW Organizing Call here!
Hosting a Voter Registration Event
Getting people with disabilities registered to vote is the first step to increasing the political power of people with disabilities. Submit information about your event here and we will include it on the REV UP State Resources and Events page.
Voter Registration Drive Kit
ElectionTools.org gathered a collection of guidelines and tools to assist community organizations with planning and holding successful voter registration events.
Voter Registration Resource Library
Nonprofit VOTE offers a host of resources on a variety of topics relating to voter engagement. Their section on voter registration includes:
- A Voter Registration Toolkit
- Seven Reasons for a Nonprofit to Do Voter Registration
- A Voter Registration Checklist
- Voter Registration Training Video
- Sample Script for Voter Registration
- And much more…
Voter Engagement Toolkit
United Way offers a comprehensive voter engagement toolkit that includes a guide for planning and conducting a voter registration event. The guide also addresses voter education, connecting with candidates, ballot measures, utilizing social media, and more.
Please remember to submit information about your voter registration event through this online form. You can also email your information directly to Zach Baldwin at zbaldwin@www.aapd.com.
Collect Your Data!
An important part of building our political power is collecting data and building lists to show that there are many people with disabilities who are registered and plan to vote. In 2016, Rutgers University estimated that 35.4 million people with disabilities are eligible to vote – this number increases to 62.7 million eligible voters, 25% of the total electorate, when we include family members of people with disabilities. We need your help to collect data and show the impact of our efforts. Please use the National Disability Voter Registration Week Reporting Form to record the number of people you register during National Disability Voter Registration Week.
Get a Proclamation Declaring July 17-21 as National Disability Voter Registration Week
Get in touch with your state or local government – Governor, Mayor, City Council, County Commissioner, State Representative, etc. – and ask them to issue a Proclamation officially declaring the week of July 17-21, 2017 as National Disability Voter Registration Week. Doing so is a great way to engage your state/local officials and make them aware of the disability community as a powerful voting bloc. A Proclamation template is available here. Please send a digital copy of any Proclamations you receive to Zach Baldwin at zbaldwin@www.aapd.com.
Other Ways to Get Involved
Hold a press conference
- Organize a rally
- Promote NDVRW through your email and social media networks
- Host a voting rights workshop
- Host a training on how to use an accessible voting machine
- Distribute a candidate questionnaire
- Organize a town hall or meeting with candidates
- Make your organization a polling place
- Visit the National Disability Voter Registration Week webpage for more details on other ways to get involved!
