An Educational Campaign

• The importance of voter participation of people with disabilities should be a part of every communication from your organization, year in and year out.
• Service providers, family members and colleagues must discuss the importance of voting as frequently and enthusiastically as we discuss empowerment, self-determination and the ADA.

Message:

• As each community is unique, the mix of media and message will vary among organizations.
• The facts are the key, and repetition is essential.
• Above all, your informational campaigns must address the self-interest of voters with disabilities. Here's an effective message (adapted again with thanks to the League):

Primary Elections and General Elections

These elections will affect you and your life.

• Your access to community services
• End of waiting lists for disability related services
• Affordable and available health care
• Quality adequately funded special education

The [organization] urges you-VOTE on September 12th and November 7th.

Key Points:

• There are 54 million people with disabilities in America. Of these 54 million people, 26 million have a severe disability.
• Most disabilities are invisible. Invisible disabilities include cancer, diabetes, some forms of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, AIDS, heart disease, learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, etc.
• There are more than 35 million voting-age persons with disabilities.
• There are 24 million registered voters with disabilities.
• People with disabilities register to vote at a rate that is 16 percentage points less than the rest of the population.
• In the 2000 presidential election between 14 and 17 million people with disabilities voted.
• However, 21 million voting-aged citizens with disabilities did not vote.

GET-OUT-THE-VOTE (GOTV) Pages

• Get-Out-The-Vote: An Educational Campaign
• Get-Out-The-Vote: A Mail and Phone Campaign
• Get-Out-The-Vote: Pollworker Training
• How to Host a Candidate Forum (PDF)