Making Voting Accessible Means Millions More Votes

Lilian Aluri, REV UP Voting Campaign Coordinator

This blog was originally posted by US Vote Foundation on their blog and reposted with permission as part of a series of blogs. The US Vote Foundation recently published their Resources for Voters with Disabilities initiative in honor of Disability Voting Rights Week.

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38 Million. That’s the number of eligible voters with disabilities in the U.S. This week, September 12-16, is Disability Voting Rights Week. Learn why the disability vote matters and how you work to build the power of the disability vote with us.

Disabled voters make up one of the largest voting blocs in the country. Many politicians and lawmakers prefer to think of us as passive members of society, content to be left out of the political process. But this could not be farther from the truth.

Disabled people are activists and organizers, candidates and voters, caregivers and recipients of care, community leaders and volunteers, patients and doctors, employees and CEOs. We have many reasons to care about elections and how they impact our lives. The people and policies we vote on impact our access to transportation, employment, healthcare, community, privacy, and so much more.

Even though voters with disabilities have many reasons to vote in elections, there is still a 6% turnout gap between voters with and without disabilities. This means that fewer people with disabilities are voting than non-disabled people. Our community has less of a say in the very policies that impact our lives. This doesn’t mean that disabled voters are less politically engaged than voters without disabilities. Access barriers create this turnout gap.

Some barriers that keep disabled voters from participating in elections include inaccessibility at every part of the voting process, discrimination from others, exclusion from the political process by candidates and campaigns, and social isolation from digital and physical access barriers to the community.

Disability Voting Rights Week, September 12-16, 2022, aapd.com/dvrw - on the right of the text is a blue and white and red ballot box with a blue fist on one side.

In 2016, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) launched the REV UP Voting Campaign and Disability Voting Rights Week to address this gap in voting outreach and advocacy. REV UP builds the power of the disability vote through grassroots coalition building, voting outreach to disabled voters, and advocating for more accessible voting.

Closing the 6% voter turnout gap between people with and without disabilities would mean close to 2 million more votes from people with disabilities. Learn how you can join REV UP in making sure disabled voters are registered and ready to vote and have access to the ballot in 2022 and beyond!

Find REV UP at aapd.com/revup and on social media at @RevUPCampaign.

REV UP Your Community!

New resources available to register, educate, and engage voters with disabilities.

April 13, 2018

The REV UP Campaign is a nonpartisan initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) that aims to increase the political power of people with disabilities while also engaging candidates and the media on disability rights issues.

Today, we are proud to release three new products – National Disability Voter Registration Week Toolkit, Candidate Questionnaire Template, Candidate Forum Guide – the first of several resources meant to help national, state, and local disability-rights advocates to register, educate, and engage voters with disabilities.

 

National Disability Voter Registration Week Toolkit

The REV UP Campaign is coordinating National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) during the week of July 16-20, 2018 to get people with disabilities registered to vote, educated about this year’s election, and prepared to cast a ballot in November. With numerous events and activities around the country during this time, we also hope to garner attention from media and candidates running for office.

The NDVRW Toolkit includes: a guide on how to organize voter registration events, ideas on other ways to participate in NDVRW, sample social media posts and graphics, and other resources. If you are planning voter registration events or other activities, please keep the REV UP Campaign updated on your efforts. You can reach us at programs@www.aapd.com.

Access the National Disability Voter Registration Week Toolkit

 

Candidate Questionnaire Template

A candidate questionnaire is a great tool to help the disability community learn more about the candidates, specifically how the candidates would address issues that impact people with disabilities. They also educate the candidates and make them more aware of the issues that are important to the disability community.

This Candidate Questionnaire Template includes a variety of questions addressing topics that are important to the disability community. If you issue a candidate questionnaire for a state or local race, please keep the REV UP Campaign updated on your efforts. You can reach us at programs@www.aapd.com.

Access the Candidate Questionnaire Template

 

Candidate Forum Guide

A candidate forum is a great tool to help the disability community learn more about the candidates, while providing an opportunity to interact with them directly. Forums are a space where candidates can directly address issues that affect the disability community. They also educate the candidates and make them more aware of the issues that are important to the disability community.

This Candidate Forum Guide links to existing candidate forum guides, highlights considerations specific to forums organized by the disability community, and outlines how to engage with other candidate forums. If you organize a candidate forum for a state or local race, please keep the REV UP Campaign updated on your efforts. You can reach us at programs@www.aapd.com.

Access the Candidate Forum Guide

 

Look out for the REV UP Campaign’s Issues Guide and Election Accessibility Toolkit coming soon!

 

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The REV UP Campaign, launched by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in 2016, is a nonpartisan initiative that coordinates with national, state, and local disability organizations to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues. The Campaign focuses on voter registration, education, access, and engagement. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!

REV UP for National Disability Voter Registration Week 2017

July 5, 2017

National Disability Voter Registration Week
July 17-21, 2017

The REV UP Campaign is coordinating the second annual National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) to increase the political power of people with disabilities while also engaging candidates and the media to recognize the disability community.

Statement of Support for the REV UP Campaign and National Disability Voter Registration Week

We are collecting sign-ons from organizations (national, state, and local) to show their support for the REV UP Campaign and National Disability Voter Registration Week. Supporting organizations will have their name and logo listed on the REV UP website to show the vast support behind the Campaign. Sign-on here!

 

How to get involved:

  • Statement of Support for the REV UP Campaign and National Disability Voter Registration Week – sign here!
  • Check out our live State Resources and Events page to see if there are any REV UP events or activities near you.
  • Plan your own voter registration event. We have some resources available on our NDVRW page. When you have the details of your event ready please complete this online form or send an email to programs@www.aapd.com.
  • Hold a press event or conference with local partners to announce national and local efforts to get new people with disabilities registered to vote (sample press release)
  • Write letters to the editor or Op-Eds and engage local radio or TV stations on the growing efforts by the disability community to become an influential voice in electoral politics this November and beyond.
  • Host a workshop or training on state voter registration rules as well as your rights as a person with a disability.
  • Make your organization a polling place. (Resources: How To Serve As A Polling Site and ADA Polling Place Checklist)
  • Go to your City Council, County Commissioner, State Representative, etc. to get the week of July 17-21, 2017 declared National Disability Voter Registration Week (a draft Proclamation is available here).

These are just a few ideas to engage your community leading up to, throughout, and beyond National Disability Voter Registration Week. Check out AAPD’s website for more information.

 

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.

 

Resources

AAPD offers REV UP images, logos, toolkits, and other documents free of charge for you to use and adapt as you coordinate voting activities in your area. Visit our REV UP Images and Toolkits page to learn more.

 

REV UP State Disability Voting Coalitions

The purpose of the REV UP State Disability Voting Coalitions is to influence election and policy outcomes at the local, state, and national level. We are looking for leaders who can pull together and organize advocates in their state to work together around voter registration and engagement activities and help establish a strong, diverse coalition. View the list of established and developing Coalitions – let us know if you would like to join an existing Coalition or launch one in your state.

 

We want to hear from you!

Are you planning a voter registration drive, press conference, voting rights workshop, or other event? Let us know! We’re trying to build a national effort to demonstrate the power of the DISABILITY VOTE. And we’d be happy to promote your event on our State Resources and Events page. Please send all events details to programs@www.aapd.com.

 

REV UP to Save Medicaid

Thank You!

Thank you for your commitment to making the DISABILITY VOTE count!

Call Recap – June 9 REV UP National Organizing Call

Preparing for National Disability Voter Registration Week 2017

June 15, 2017

Last Friday, on June 9, the REV UP Campaign hosted a National Organizing Call to prepare for National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) 2017. NDVRW is an annual effort to get more people with disabilities registered to vote while making the media and political candidates aware of the disability community as a powerful voting bloc. In 2016, according to Rutgers University, people with disabilities and their families (within the same household) accounted for 25% of the total electorate (62.7 million eligible voters).

During the call, we discussed the REV UP Campaign’s purpose as well as our state disability voting coalition strategy. We also reviewed our partnership with EveryLibrary and public libraries around the country, general voter registration strategies, and examples of NDVRW activities from current REV UP state partners.

Thank you to our guest speakers:

 

National Disability Voter Registration Week: July 17-21, 2017
Resources and Information

Visit the National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) webpage for more information about NDVRW; resources for hosting voter registration events; sample press releases, social media posts, and proclamations; and other ideas on how you can get involved during the week.

 

State Resources and Events

As we did last year, we are compiling a list of REV UP state resources and events for NDVRW and beyond. 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.

 

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. We need your help to collect data and show the impact of our efforts. Even if your event only registers a handful of people, every amount counts and adds up! Please use the National Disability Voter Registration Week Reporting Form to record the number of people you register during National Disability Voter Registration Week.

 

REV UP Logos and Graphics

The REV UP Campaign has a variety of logos and graphics available free of charge. REV UP partners are welcome to use and modify these logos and graphics as they wish.

Download these graphics and more on the REV UP Images and Toolkits webpage

 

 

National Disability Voter Registration Week – Proclamations

Go to your Governor, Mayor, City Council, County Commissioner, State Representative, etc. to get the week of July 17-21, 2017 officially declared as National Disability Voter Registration Week (a draft Proclamation is available here). Please send any Proclamations you get to Zach Baldwin at zbaldwin@www.aapd.com so we can show the influence of REV UP across the country! Asking for a Proclamation is a great way to engage your state and local elected officials to make them aware of the REV UP Campaign and influence of the disability vote.

 

REV UP State Disability Voting Coalitions

With the 2018 mid-term elections just around the corner, we are starting by building state REV UP State Disability Voting Coalitions around the country. The purpose of the state voting coalitions is to influence election and policy outcomes at the local, state, and national level. We are looking for leaders who can pull together and organize advocates in their state to work together around voter registration and engagement activities and help establish a strong, diverse coalition.

The list of states getting involved continues to grow. To date we have REV UP State Disability Voting Coalitions established or developing in the following states:

  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington

If you see your state on this list and would like to get involved please contact Zach Baldwin (zbaldwin@www.aapd.com) so we can connect you with other advocates in your state. If you don’t see your state on this list and would like to help us launch a state coalition please contact Zach Baldwin (zbaldwin@www.aapd.com) so we can get the ball rolling.

 

Thank you for all that you do to REV UP and make the DISABILITY VOTE count!

 

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

 

The REV UP Campaign is coming to a Library near You!

May 5, 2017

AAPD and EveryLibrary are teaming up through the REV UP Campaign to encourage libraries across the country to support nonpartisan voter registration efforts during National Disability Voter Registration Week (NDVRW) and throughout the year.

The REV UP Campaign aims to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power! National Disability Voter Registration Week – scheduled for July 17-21 this year – is a concerted effort to get more people with disabilities registered to vote and engaged in the political process.

Libraries in nearly all 50 states are participating in 2017. They will be sharing information about NDVRW, promoting registrar services with local organizations, collaborating with non-partisan voter registration groups for on-site registration drives at the library, and even training staff to be Registrars to support NDVRW and voter registrations as a core service. NDVRW 2017 is also about sharing information around ballot access and the need for accessible ballots and polling places around your community.

Sign-up your library to participate in National Disability Voter Registration Week!

Eligible voters with disabilities accounted for nearly 17% of the electorate (35.4 million voters) in 2016 – that percentage jumps to 25% (62.7 million voters) when we include the family members of people with disabilities (Doug Kruse & Lisa Schur, Rutgers University). The disability community can have a significant impact on policies and elections if we are registered to vote and engaged to cast a ballot. Libraries can play part in increasing the political participation of people with disabilities by participating in NDVRW and partnering with local disability organizations.

To help libraries get the most out of their participation in NDVRW, AAPD and EveryLibrary developed a Toolkit for National Disability Voter Registration Week in Libraries. This Toolkit – available free to libraries who sign up to participate in NDVRW – provides information, resources, and tips from EveryLibrary and AAPD for engaging in voter registration efforts during NDVRW.

There are four ways for libraries to get involved in National Disability Voter Registration Week. Finding the right one for your library and your community starts with adding your library to the list of partner libraries at http://action.everylibrary.org/ndvrw.

 

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The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 50+ million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation.

EveryLibrary is a 501c4 political action committee dedicated to building voter support for libraries. Since 2012, EveryLibrary has provided donor supported pro-bono advising and consulting to 62 library campaigns helping to win over $220 million in stable tax funding. EveryLibrary’s public facing advocacy and activism page action.everylibrary.org has over 100,000 members of the public signed up and taking action to support libraries of all kinds. Learn more about EveryLibrary at everylibrary.org.

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