Fact sheet on voting and disability
Thomas Cagle (nh-adapt@juno.com)
Mon, 26 Jan 1998 18:39:50 -0500
--------- Begin forwarded message ----------
From: "Laura R. Mitchell" <af752@lafn.org>
I'm not sure where this "fact sheet" originated, but it's very relevant
to
all of us who work on advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and
chronic illnesses. We must register! We must vote! We must let our
elected officials know what we think and how we feel and how the public
policy decisions they make affect our lives!
--Laura
======================================
>Subject: Fact sheet on voting and disability
>
>>AMERICA'S LARGEST MINORITY GROUP
>>
>>
>>There are 49 million citizens with disabilities -
>>The largest minority group in the U.S.
>>
>>PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:
>>DEMOCRACY'S CHALLENGE
>>
>>People with disabilities are much less likely to register and
>>vote than are non-disabled individuals. Studies indicate that
>>individuals with disabilities are 15% less likely to register,
>>and between 14-21% less likely to vote than non-disabled persons.
>>Further, people with disabilities vote absentee at almost twice
>>the rate of non-disabled population. If people with disabilities
>>voted at the same rate as the general population, between 7 and
>>10 million more individuals would be voting.
>>
>>OLDER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES MUCH LESS LIKELY TO
>>PARTICIPATE THAN NON-DISABLED ELDERLY
>>
>>The conventional wisdom that elderly people are more likely to
>>vote does not hold true for individuals with disabilities. While
>>the turnout gap is smaller among young and middle-age people,
>>older people with disabilities are much less likely to vote than
>>older people without disabilities.
>>
>>WILL MOTOR VOTER INCREASE TURNOUT?
>>
>>The National Voter Registration Act (or Motor Voter Bill)
>>requires disability agencies to offer to register its consumers.
>>The bill applies to agencies receiving state funds, but any
>>disability organization that wishes to may provide voter
>>registration services. The law affects state agencies,
>>developmental disabilities agencies, centers for independent
>>living, programs for people who are deaf or blind, and mental
>>health agencies. In addition, private organizations such as the
>>United Cerebral Palsy Association, The Arc, or Easter Seals
>>agencies that receive any state funds must comply with the law.
>>
>>The National Voter Registration act is designed to increase voter
>>turnout by making registering easier. Our research, however,
>>indicates that, while there are increased numbers of people with
>>disabilities registered, turnout has not increased - at least
>>yet. As states improve their implementation, we may see
>>increased turnout, but so far, there is only limited evidence
>>that Motor Voter is effective.
>>
>>MOST STATES PROHIBIT VOTING BY SOME INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
>>
>>Forty-four states, by constitution or statute, prohibit voting by
>>some individuals with mental disabilities. Only Colorado,
>>Kansas, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire do not
>>have disability-based voting prohibitions. Fifteen states
>>identify the individuals affected as idiots or insane persons, or
>>lunatics. Other states prohibit some individuals from voting
>>based on adjudication of incompetency or because they are under
>>guardianship.
>>
>>These disability-based prohibitions raise serious constitutional
>>questions, especially given that other means such as
>>anti-bribery, anti-coercion, and anti-perjury statutes, are
>>available to protect state interests in ensuring an intelligent
>>electorate and the purity of the vote. In addition, states may
>>use an objective test of competence by requiring all voter
>>applicants to provide necessary information such as name and
>>address and assurance of citizenship and age.
>>
>>POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OTHER THAN VOTING
>>
>>People with disabilities have achieved major gains in their
>>rights and status through other forms of political action -
>>including campaign work, lobbying, lawsuits, and organizing -
>>over the past several decades. Despite these gains, stigma,
>>discrimination, and isolation are still major problems, and many
>>people with disabilities participate very little in civic and
>>political affairs. Social context is a key factor: those who
>>are politically active have often become so through jobs and
>>organizations that provide information and networks. This
>>indicates substantial potential for greater political
>>participation by people with disabilities if they are given good
>>opportunities, information, and support.
>>
>>A RESEARCH AND ACTION AGENDA
>>
>>The stability and responsiveness of democracy depend on citizen
>>participation. Citizens who have disabilities - America's
>>largest minority - are not involved to the extent they should be.
>>Attitudinal, physical, and legal barriers pose serious
>>challenges. If individuals who have disabilities, particularly
>>older disabled persons, are to participate, we must know more
>>about their political behavior and attitudes.
>>
>>The agenda must include:
>>
>>research on the political behavior and attitudes of people with
>>disabilities
>>demonstration and evaluation of voter education and mobilization
>>efforts.
>>Court challenges to disability-based voting prohibitions.
|==================================================================|
| 0 People with disabilities: A resource to recognize, |
| |_ *not* a problem to solve! |
| ( \_) =========================================================|
| *** (c) 1998, Laura Remson Mitchell e-mail: af752@lafn.org |
|==================================================================|
--------- End forwarded message ----------
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