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.
