Event Recap: Diversability Unplugged: The Power of the Disability Vote
Disabled voters played a vital role in the 2020 election. With more and more voter suppression bills being passed, a number of them targeted specifically at disabled voters, many in the disabled community have become discouraged and even deciding not to vote or register to vote.
On Wednesday, August 23rd at 7 PM ET, we hosted Diversability Unplugged: The Power of the Disability Vote, in partnership with REV UP, a panel discussion about the impact disabled voters have had throughout history, voter suppression laws, and the upcoming election year, and more.
Our panelists included:
Neal Carter (he/him), Principal, Nu View Consulting
Dom Kelly (he/him), Founder, CEO, New Disabled South
Laura Minutello (she/her), Voting Access Advocate, Disability Rights Florida
Jess Moore Matthews (she/her), Founder & Chief Good Troublemaker, Backbone Digital Leaders
Jenessa Seymour (she/her), Voting Rights Advocate, Disability Rights New York
Our panelists shared their personal experiences and insights about the importance of the disability vote. Jess Matthews recounted her excitement as a newly registered voter in 2008 during the election of the first Black president. Her involvement in door-knocking and witnessing the impact of her vote became a transformative moment. Later, her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis shifted her perspective on accessibility and civic engagement.
Laura Minutello discussed her first-time voting experience and her aspiration to participate in organizing efforts. However, she faced barriers due to her wheelchair use, which highlighted the broader challenge of disability inclusion in civic engagement.
Neal Carter emphasized the persisting accessibility issues in polling locations, reflecting on personal experiences where polling places were not truly accessible. He noted that despite the ADA's existence for over three decades, accessibility progress has been insufficient, and there is still a long way to go.
Dom Kelly linked his political awareness to Barack Obama's election and the recognition of his own disability identity as political. He shared instances of personal and observed voter suppression, including inaccessible polling places and voting barriers faced by disabled individuals, particularly in Georgia.
Jenessa Seymour underscored that disability affects a significant portion of the population, including those with non-apparent disabilities and conditions that may arise with age. She emphasized the need for everyone to consider disability-related issues in their voting decisions, as disabilities are widespread and will impact most people at some point in their lives.
Several examples were highlighted positive initiatives and strategies that have encouraged disabled voter participation:
Expansion of Mail-In Ballots: The introduction of mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as a major win. It became a reasonable accommodation for disabled voters and the broader population, allowing people to vote safely from home.
Disability-Inclusive Field Programs: In political campaigns, developing field programs that target disabled voters and engage with their networks can make a significant difference. This approach involves hiring community captains and advisors with disabilities to ensure the voices and needs of the disabled community are heard and addressed.
Accessible Vote by Mail: In response to the pandemic, the adoption of accessible vote by mail gained momentum. Legal provisions were put to use to ensure accessible vote-by-mail options were available for disabled voters, making voting more inclusive.
Constituent Services Department: Campaigns and organizations have introduced constituent services departments that provide assistance beyond voting. These departments offer resources and support to individuals facing challenges related to housing, food, and other basic needs. By addressing these broader concerns, voter engagement and turnout can be positively impacted.
Elevating Disability Platforms: Several political candidates, including those at the presidential level, have developed comprehensive disability platforms. These platforms are influenced by disabled individuals and advocates, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of addressing disability-related issues in political campaigns.
HAVA Complaint Process: The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) complaint process has been used effectively to address issues of accessibility and voter suppression. By filing complaints and bringing attention to violations, disabled voters have been able to secure favorable determinations and improvements in polling place accessibility and training for poll workers.
In a discussion about voter suppression laws and their impact on disabled voters, the participants highlighted various ways these laws target the disabled community and shared strategies to counter such efforts.
Dom Kelly mentioned how voter suppression laws, like Georgia's SB202, can affect disabled voters. For instance, banning the distribution of food and water at polling locations could impact those with mobility issues who might need sustenance while waiting in line. Other barriers included limited accessible ballot drop boxes, financial constraints for purchasing stamps, and restrictions on who can assist disabled voters in returning their ballots.
Neal Carter emphasized the importance of national organizations providing accessible voter protection hotlines to address voter suppression issues promptly. He also shared personal stories highlighting the challenges disabled voters face, such as misinformation and the removal of assistive devices.
Jess Matthews discussed personal efforts, including becoming a poll worker and publicly holding organizations accountable for accessibility failures. She suggested the creation of an accessibility watchdog account on social media to highlight and address accessibility issues.
Laura Minutello highlighted the efforts of her organization, Disability Rights Florida (DRF), which conducts poll site accessibility surveys and runs a voter hotline to assist disabled voters. She also pointed out that while accessibility laws might seem strong on paper, implementation often falls short.
Jenessa Seymour shared insights about the passing of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act in New York, which aims to protect voting rights more comprehensively, and DRF's work in conducting poll site accessibility surveys that found a high percentage of violations.
During the discussion on polling place accessibility and disabled voters' rights, the panelists covered several key points:
Laura emphasized the importance of polling place accessibility and outlined various elements that should be accessible at polling locations. She mentioned aspects like parking spaces with wide access aisles, accessible entrances with handles instead of doorknobs, availability and proper placement of accessible voting machines, and the need for poll worker education and training. She also highlighted DRF's use of the ADA checklist for accessible polling places in their surveys.
Neal suggested the need for standardized national training on polling place accessibility, involving input and collaboration from experts in the field, including disabled individuals, advocates, and organizations. He stressed the importance of implementing consistent accessibility standards across different states to ensure that disabled voters' rights are protected uniformly.
Dom pointed out that disabled voters have the right to skip the line and go to the front in some locations, a fact that many people may not be aware of. This is especially relevant in Georgia. This emphasizes the importance of knowing and asserting one's rights as a disabled voter.
Jenessa highlighted the availability of Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) as an important right for disabled voters. She explained that BMDs offer electronic options for voting, including features like headphones, paddle boards for dexterity challenges, and sip-and-puff devices for navigation.
Jess Matthews: Jess discussed the importance of checking your state's rules regarding curbside voting, which can be a significant right for disabled voters. She mentioned that North Carolina has curbside voting options and encouraged attendees to be aware of these provisions.
The conversation closed by demonstrating the impact of a single vote and the importance of individual participation. The panelists provided various insights:
Jenessa shared examples of elections that were decided by just one vote or ended in a tiebreaker, highlighting how critical every vote can be, especially in local elections. She emphasized that even when an election comes down to a small number of votes, individual participation can make a significant difference.
Jess echoed the sentiment that local elections often have win numbers in the hundreds, which means a single vote can have a direct impact on the outcome. She encouraged participants to think about the direct influence their vote can have on issues they care about, such as sidewalks, street lights, and other local matters.
Laura stressed the importance of personal advocacy and self-advocacy. She encouraged participants to think about their own reasons for voting and how their vote can contribute to shaping the policies and issues that matter to them.
The panelists collectively highlighted that while a single vote might not always be the decisive factor, it is essential for expressing one's voice, advocating for change, and contributing to the democratic process, especially at the local level where the impact is more immediate and tangible.
Additional resources:
Register to vote: https://register.rockthevote.com/registrants/new?partner=39134
Information for voters: https://aapdarchive.wpengine.com/advocacy/voting-2/upcoming-elections/
Become a paid poll worker: https://www.powerthepolls.org/diversability
Watch the full conversation on YouTube and check out our upcoming events at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/diversability-8371536401