(Image: Woman with SMA in electric wheelchair smiles and looks at camera in polling station. People vote in the background. )
Disability Voting Rights Week, happening this year from September 9 -13, 2024, is a vital initiative aimed at raising awareness about the voting rights of people with disabilities and advocating for a more accessible voting process. Launched in 2016 by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) through the REV UP campaign—an acronym for Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power—this national event has the goal to increase civic engagement within the disability community, making sure individuals with disabilities can vote without barriers. AAPD is a national civil rights organization that champions the inclusion and rights of the over 61 million Americans with disabilities, dedicating its work to advancing accessibility in all aspects of civic life, including elections.
Event Highlight: CPWD Hosts Boulder Mayor Aaron Brocket on 9/10/24
Image: City of Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett is seen pictured from the shoulders up. He is wearing a lavender shirt and sports jackets and has short brown hair.
As part of Disability Voting Rights Week, CPWD will host City of Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett on Tuesday, September 10, at our Boulder office to discuss the importance of accessible voting. This event provides a unique opportunity for community members to engage with local leadership and learn about efforts to make elections more equitable. You can also attend the Longmont City Council Meeting at 7 p.m. on the same day, where Mayor Joan Peck will read the official proclamation. Both events are excellent opportunities to show support for disability voting rights and engage with local officials.
RSVP for the 1 p.m. event at our Boulder office here. No RSVP is required for the Longmont City Council meeting, as it is open to the public.
For more information about CPWD’s involvement or how you can participate, please contact Craig Towler, Community Organizer, at [email protected].
A Long Struggle for Voting Rights
The challenges people with disabilities face when voting are not new. Historically, many people with disabilities were disenfranchised due to inaccessible polling locations, lack of necessary accommodations, and outright discrimination. It wasn’t until the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 that accessibility requirements for polling places were codified into law. However, barriers have remained, as many polling sites failed to comply with accessibility standards, and voting equipment was often ill-suited for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities. For example, in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, multiple studies revealed that a large number of polling stations were still not accessible, leaving many voters with disabilities unable to cast their ballots.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 further sought to improve accessibility by requiring that each polling place have at least one voting machine that is accessible to voters with disabilities. Despite these legal protections, many voters with disabilities continue to face obstacles. Often, voting locations are inaccessible (stairs or other physical barriers), there are no trained voting judges to assist voters who are blind or have other disabilities that require assistance, and the mail-in voting process can be to complex for some voters.
Why Disability Voting Rights Week Matters
A graphic image that shows a ballot box. Above it are the words “National Disability Voting Rights Week, September 9-13, 2024,” and below it says “Register. Educate. Vote. Use Your Power!”
Disability Voting Rights Week was created to respond to these ongoing challenges and to make an effort to provide full accessibility to voting, increasing voting participation by the disability community on important ballot issues and candidates. The REV UP campaign emphasizes that civic engagement from the disability community is essential to shaping laws and policies on independent living, healthcare, civil rights, and more. An estimated 38 million Americans with disabilities are eligible to vote, yet about 15% (1 in 7) report difficulties when trying to cast their ballots. In the 2022 midterm elections, people with disabilities voted at a rate 3.6% lower than people without disabilities. These statistics show the continued need for initiatives like Disability Voting Rights Week to guarantee equitable access to the democratic process.
Disability Voting Rights Week includes a variety of activities aimed at promoting voting accessibility. Common activities to achieve this goal include voter registration drives, where accessible materials like large print or braille are provided, as well as educational workshops that inform voters about their rights and how to navigate potential barriers. Cities often issue proclamations recognizing the week, and social media campaigns like #REVUP helps spread the word and inspire action. CPWD is collaborating with election officials and community leaders to raise awareness and improve access.
These activities give opportunities for the public to be informed, empowered, and able to vote without barriers. By working directly with election officials, organizations help put checkpoints in place so that polling places meet accessibility standards, voting machines are user-friendly, and mail-in voting is simplified for people with disabilities.
Disability Voting Rights Week is a powerful opportunity to advocate for an inclusive and accessible voting process, making sure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard in shaping policies that affect their lives. Join CPWD in promoting voting equity by attending our events, volunteering, or spreading the word. Together, we can work toward a future where every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to vote freely and without barriers.
