38.3 Million Voters -The Power of the Disability Vote Early Voting has Begun, Every Vote Matters

In-person elections happen on  November 8, 2022, but early voting has already begun. The  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers voting, so polling places should be accessible and offer support if needed due to disability. For more information on the ADA and voters with disabilities, please visit the ADA website on voting linked here.  

In this linked article, Social Security outlines how to support Voters with Disabilities Participate in the Democratic Process via the Election Assistance Commission.

You can call 866-Our-VOTE - a non-profit Election Protection group - to speak to people about voting questions and get ideas on assistance. State election websites also have a menu item for "accessible voting". For example, here is the state of Maryland's webpage for Voters with Disabilities.  

Also, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life has Voter Information posted here for Maryland and all other states. UMBC has a ballot collection box on our accessible campus in The Commons (available until 8p on Election Day 11/8) - check your Official Election Mailing, or online for the polling place/option that works best for you. More information from the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, such as checking registration status and requesting a mail-in ballot by November 1, is linked here.

Voting in Maryland - How to register, find your polling location, etc..

Want to know more about candidates in the context of disability - RespectAbility.Org sends out a detailed questionnaire  to candidates - the 2022 RespectAbility.org Maryland Voter Guide is linked here. Other states/responses are also within their website.


Voting in Virginia

https://www.elections.virginia.gov/

The ARC of Northern Virginia had a forum with Congressional candidates to discern where they stand on disability issues in August which can be viewed  at https://thearcofnova.org/events/2022-meet-the-candidates-forums/. 

Additional campus-based resources for people with disabilities and their allies include:

A photo of a knitted vertical VOTE sign on a blue sleeve encircling a tree trunk accompanies this post. Credit: Manny Becerra via unsplash.com
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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
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