National Voters of All Abilities Registration Day

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 16:53:15 -0400
accessibility, blind, disability, diversityandinclusion, mail, registration, suppression, voting

We join UMBC's celebration of National Voter Registration Day. Many (people with disabilities -and- those who do not identify as having a disability) wonder about how inclusive voting is, or can be, especially since more than 35 million Americans with disabilities are eligible to vote . A small sampling of resources include:

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission shares and promotes information on voting accessibility.

Maryland's Board of Elections is committed to making voting accessible to all voters. Their page Access Information for Voters with Disabilities has information and instructions for a wide range of circumstances. The deadline for voter registration is October 13, 2020 in Maryland.

The American Association of People with Disabilities' REV Up Campaign: Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power works to increase voter registration and engagement by working to eliminate barriers to the polls and end voter suppression. These goals complement today's message from our UMBC's leaders:

"As crucial as voting is, there are many other important ways to take responsibility for the future of our communities and make them thrive. Social change can happen in neighborhoods, workplaces, and everyday settings. You can work with the people around you to address issues in your own communities. Connecting and sharing stories helps people move beyond stereotypes and recognize each other’s humanity. That is what it means to cast your whole vote."

Get busy with UMBC departments, student organizations and events (link), and consider signing the online pledge for All In To Vote. As of this writing UMBC is on the national podium, and it wouldn't take much to pass U. of Miami and Goucher to take the lead.

As always, you can reach out to UMBC's Accessibility and Disability Services for accessibility concerns, technical questions, and employee accommodations. Student Disability Services provides accommodation support for registered students with disabilities.

A photo of a lawn sign reading "I'm So Gonna Vote" from Kari Sullivan via Unsplash accompanies this post