Harnessing
Your Power on Election Day
by
Angela Katsakis
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
services that elected officials cut first 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 comprise 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 axeCwe 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:
The answer? Get out and
vote on November 2, 2004. If you won't 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!
However, when organized and motivated, 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 get them to vote!
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
their 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.
Why is voting 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
November 2, Election Day.
Voting ID Tips: Be
sure to bring identification when you vote, especially if you are a
new registrant. Your ID has to have your name and address on it.
Government issued ID, such as a state ID card, driver's license,
utility bills (because they show your name and address), bank correspondence
that shows your name and address, or a letter from a government
agency that shows 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 being 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 whoB and are ready to assist you in solving the problem.
.
Volunteer to Be a Pollworker.
Did you know the age of the average pollworker in the US is 72?
Pollworkers 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
pollworkers 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 pollworker, county and state in which it occurred.
You can sent it to John Wodatch, Chief of Disability Rights, DOJ,
Civil Rights Division, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 4039, Washington,
DC 20530, or send an email to john.l.wodatch@usdoj.gov.
Angela Katsakis is the Disability Vote Project Coordinator for the
American Association of People with Disabilities. She can be reached
at aapdvote@earthlink.net. Please visit our website at www.aapd-dc.org for more information about the Disability Vote Project and AAPD.
