Produced by the Southeast ADA Center, a member of the ADA National Network and a project of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) at Syracuse University
Episode 34 Resources: The Disability Vote – The Sleeping Giant Wakes Up!
Accessible Voting Places Webcourse This course provides an overview of many of the laws covering accessible voting, common barriers to voting, and physical requirements for accessible voting places. The training also offers effective solutions that can be used to make polling places accessible on voting day. Election officials and voters alike will benefit from an understanding of this information. Source: Rocky Mountain ADA Center Link: rockymountainada.talentlms.com/catalog/info/id:133
Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Resources and Information The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 was passed by Congress to make sweeping reforms to the nation’s voting process. HAVA addresses improvements to voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 election. Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Link: www.eac.gov/about_the_eac/help_america_vote_act.aspx
The National Voter Registration Act Congress enacted the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (also known as the “NVRA” and the “Motor Voter Act”), to enhance voting opportunities for every American. The Act has made it easier for all Americans to register to vote and to maintain their registration. Source: U.S. Department of Justice Link: www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/nvra/activ_nvra.php
Register & Vote in Your State / Work at the Polls on Election Day This interactive map and page allows users to quickly access key information in their state about registering to vote, where to vote, what’s on the ballot, and more. Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Link: www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx
Election Management Guidelines The Election Management Guidelines and Quick Starts Guides were created to assist state and local election officials in effectively managing and administering elections. These guidelines complement the technical standards for the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines for voting equipment. Chapter 19 focuses on Accessibility Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Link: www.eac.gov/election_management_resources/election_management_guidelines.aspx
REV UP: Register, Educate, Vote and Use your Power The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has a REV UP! Toolkit to help you begin organizing the disability vote in your community. You can also download the REV UP logos to help spread the word and make the Disability Vote count! Source: American Association of People with Disabilities Link: www.aapd.com/our-focus/voting/rev-up-images-and-toolkits/
BeReady16 Includes popular resources and shared approaches for how best to inform voters, advocates and the media about state election laws and procedures, voting technology, including how to prepare for and execute an election while also monitoring reports and speculations, managing media relations, and maintaining contingency plans. Also see tools and resources from the Presidential Commission on Election Administration (PCEA). Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission Link: www.eac.gov/election_management_resources/beready16.aspx
10 Tips for Voters With Disabilities [PDF] Before you vote in the next election, know the voting process in your State. The following tips from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission examine the options available to help voters with disabilities vote privately and independently. Source: U.S. Election Assistance Commission Link: www.eac.gov/assets/1/Documents/508[1]_14Disabilities.pdf
ADA Checklist for Polling Places A newly revised checklist (July 2016) developed by the U.S. Department of Justice to evaluate polling place accessibility. It includes a survey to guide election officials in evaluating the accessibility of facilities used or being considered for use as polling places. Available in PDF (15 pages) and HTML versions. Source: U.S. Department of Justice Link: www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm Link: www.ada.gov/votingck.htm
Help America Vote Act and Other Accessible Voting Resources The Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD), part of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), has information and resources on voting accessibility for persons with disabilities. Source: Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) Link: www.acl.gov/programs/aidd/Programs/HelpAmericaVoteAct/index.aspx
ACCESS DENIED: Barriers to Online Voter Registration for Citizens with Disabilities Report focuses on one urgent issue: the accessibility of online voter registration websites for voters with disabilities. Source: Americans Civil Liberities Union and the Center for Accessible Technology Link: www.aclu.org/report/access-denied-barriers-online-voter-registration-citizens-disabilities
Know Your Right to Vote! Elections matter. When you vote, you choose who represents the disability community in the government at all levels. 2016 is an election year…so exercise your right to vote! Get informed and know your rights. Source: The Arc Liink: www.thearc.org/what-we-do/resources/toolkits/vote
Voting Resources for the 2016 Election Source: American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) Link: www.aapd.com/our-focus/voting/voter-resource-center
Election Protection Coalition The Election Protection Coalition hosts a hotline where voters can call to report problems when voting and receive advice on what to do. The Coalition is a nonpartisan alliance of civil rights and civic organizations committed to protecting the rights of all voters to cast their ballot. The hotline (1-866-OURVOTE or 1-866-687-8683) is an immediate, on-the-spot resource staffed by lawyers, law students and other volunteers trained to resolve voting problems. Source: Election Protection Coalition Link: 866ourvote.org
Communicating Election and Post-Election Processes Toolkit Use this toolkit to create educational materials about pre- and post-election processes that observers and the public can understand. Election officials in any size jurisdiction can adapt this toolkit to fit their observer and voter education needs. Source: Clearinghouse Resources for Election Officials Link: www.shop.adainformation.org/Access-to-Voting-Pocket-Guide-DOC01.htm