On Target is a monthly publication
of the Indiana Governor's Council for People with Disabilities.
We welcome your suggestions for newsletter content and
ideas concerning the actions of the Council. On Target is made available
in accessible formats upon request.
General election: October 10, 2000
Suellen Jackson-Boner
Executive Director
Christine Dahlberg
Associate Director
Paul Shankland
Grants Manager |
N.O.D. Vote!
2000 Campaign
The National Organization on Disability's (N.O.D.) VOTE! 2000 Campaign has a
simple, but important goal: increase voter turnout for people with disabilities by three percent, or 700,000 people, for the November 2000 election. This campaign wants to showcase the importance of voting within the
disability community.
"People with disabilities are the sleeping giants of Indiana politics. Two-thirds of Hoosiers with disabilities haven't voted.
One-third of Hoosiers with disabilities aren't
registered to vote," Vote! 2000 Director Jim Dickson said. "When we are all registered and all voting, we will see the end to the housing waiting lists, a vigorous enforcement of the ADA. The disability community needs to be seen as a voting bloc."
Two ways N.O.D. would like to increase voter turnout is closing the voter registration gap and making polling places accessible.
Voter turnout for people with disabilities
is 20 percent below the turnout for people
without disabilities. The poor voter turnout
is partly due to low voter registration rates.
In 1996, approximately 23.5 million people with disabilities did not vote in the presidential election; 9.2 million were not even registered to vote.
Most disability service providers have failed to provide voter registration services as required by the National Voter Registration Act (the Motor Voter Law). Section 7a of the NVRA requires that "each state shall designate as voter registration agencies … all offices in
the state that provide state-funded programs
primarily engaged in providing services to
persons with disabilities." These providers must offer the opportunity to register to vote to their clients during initial contact, change of address and at re-certification. The opportunity to register must be offered as the service is delivered. For example, if a person with a
disability has home health care visits, the opportunity to register to vote must
be offered at the home of the patient.
Some of the agencies mandated to offer
this service include Medicaid, home health care providers, para-transit providers,
vocational/rehabilitation, mental health providers and commissions for the deaf
and blind. Disability-specific agencies, such
as the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Easter Seals and the Epilepsy Foundation, are required
to offer voter registration to their clients.
(See related story on page 3.)
An N.O.D./Louis Harris poll reports that only 25 percent of people with disabilities have been offered the opportunity to register to vote by their service providers.
Making polling places accessible is another way to increase voter turnout this year. The most recent Federal Election Commission reports that at least 20,000 of the nation's more than 120,000 polling places are
inaccessible to people with disabilities.
The National Task Force on Election Accessibility has
published a polling place access guide. (See related story
on page 3.)
By offering more opportunities to
register to vote and making polling places more accessible, the N.O.D. VOTE! 2000 Campaign wants to affirm the disability community's political clout, as well as demonstrate that
people with disabil-ities make important
contributions to
the nation.
People with disabilities are
the sleeping giants of Indiana politics. Two-thirds of Hoosiers with disabilities haven't voted. One-third of Hoosiers with
disabilities aren't registered
to vote.
- Vote! 2000 Director,
Jim Dickson
Registering to vote online
The Internet allows citizens to register to vote online, providing people with disabilities easier access to the voting process.
- www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm
Click on the "Indiana" button
The Federal Election Commission site provides
an official, printable voter registration form.
- www.rockthevote.org
Click on the "Get
Registered" button
MTV's "Rock the Vote" Web site will guide you step-by- step through an online registration.
- www.beavoter.org
Click on the "Register
to Vote" button
This site will also guide
you step-by-step to register to vote.
- www.ivillage.com/election
Click on the "Register
to Vote" button
This site will allow you
to register to vote.
Voter eligibility
You are qualified to vote in the 2000 General Election if you:
- Are a citizen of the
United States.
- Are at least 18 years old on or before Nov. 7, 2000.
- Reside in your precinct
at least 29 days (Oct. 9 for 2000 General Election) before the election in which you will be voting.
- Are not currently in prison after being convicted of
a crime.
- Apply to register to vote
at least 29 days (Oct. 9 for 2000 General Election) before the election in which you will be voting, and your application is approved.
Poll workers guide for
people with disabilities
To help poll workers better understand how to interact with people with disabilities at polling sites, the National Organization on Disability provides the following guidelines.
- Be considerate of the extra time it might take for a person who has a disability to vote. Give unhurried attention to a person who has difficulty speaking.
- Speak directly to the person with the
disability, not to the companion who might be along.
- Speak calmly, slowly and directly to a
person with a hearing disability. Facial expressions, gestures and body movements help in understanding. If necessary, write a note.
- Before pushing someone in a wheelchair, ask if they would like your help and how to proceed.
- Greet a person who is visually impaired by letting the person know who and where you are. Provide a guiding device, such as a ruler, for signing forms. When offering walking assistance, give the person your arm and tell the person when you are approaching an incline or turn.
- Be aware that animals that offer assistance to people with disabilities must be admitted to the polling place. Remember that service animals are working, and you should not interact with them as you would with a pet.
- Federal law allows people with disabilities to be accompanied into the voting booth by a person of their choice.
- Remember that all voters deserve courteous attention.
- People with mental disabilities have
the same right to vote as other people, although a few states have specific laws regarding the voting rights of such people. Be aware that it is not the poll worker's responsibility to pass judgment.
Exercise your
political power
People with disabilities can be a powerful voting bloc. Unfortunately, most don't use their political clout. Here are a few statistics about voters with disabilities.
- If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as the rest of America, there would have been at least five million more votes cast in the 1996 presidential election.
- Fourteen million voting-age people with disabilities are not registered to vote.
- People with disabilities register to vote at
a rate 16 percentage points lower than the rest of the population.
- Disability service providers are required
by law to offer voter registration to
their clients, but 75 percent of people
with disabilities report they have never been asked to register to vote by a
service provider.
- There are more than 35 million voting-age people with disabilities.
In the 1996 presidential election, 11.6
million Americans with disabilities did vote; 23.5 million Americans with disabilities of voting age did not.
- In the 1996 presidential election, 30 percent of eligible voters with disabilities voted; 50 percent of the voting-age population at large voted.
- People with disabilities who are employed vote at the same rate as their peers without disabilities.
Source: 1998 National Organization on Disability/
Louis Harris Survey of Americans with Disabilities.
Meeting motor voter
registration requirements
The National Voter Registration Act, or "Motor Voter" Law, requires all public
and private agencies and individuals serving people with disabilities to offer voter registration
services, during initial contact, re-certification and change of address. But a 2000 National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.)/Harris poll shows only 44 percent of people with disabilities have been offered registration services.
N.O.D. offers the following suggestions for agencies to improve their voter registration services, increasing the political power of
the largest minority in America - people
with disabilities.
- Appoint a permanent staff member to
oversee and coordinate voter registration activities.
- Design the best plan to give all clients the opportunity to register to vote.
- Change agency forms to include the
question, "If you are not registered to vote where you now live, would you like to
register here today?"
- Always offer help in completing the voter registration form, and offer to mail in
the form.
- Prepare for your clients a Q&A of frequently asked registration questions.
(See story below for
more information.)
- Record the names and phone numbers of those who register to vote at your agency, which helps track registration efforts.
- Remember that all voter registration efforts must be non-partisan. Consider posting a sign that reads: "Our voter registration services are offered without regard for the voter's political preference. Information and other assistance regarding registering or voting, including transportation and other services offered, shall not be with held or refused on the basis of support
for or opposition to a particular candidate or political party."
- Remind staff not to wear buttons or display materials supporting a party or candidate
Accessibility checklist
for polling places
One of the primary reasons people with disabilities do not vote is inaccessible polling places. To overcome that challenge, the National Organization on Disability provides these guidelines for an accessible polling place.
- Parking - Make sure accessible parking spaces are as close to the entrance as possible, are marked with a universal access symbol and are at least eight feet wide with an access aisle of at least eight feet.
- Access - Check to make sure all curbs or steps are ramped. Ramps that rise more than six inches need to have a railing.
- Entrance doors - Doors are to be at least 34 inches wide. Ensure door hardware can be operated with a closed fist.
- Interior access - Check to see if there is an uninterrupted path at least three feet wide from the entrance to the voting area. If there are wall mounted objects, such as fire extinguishers, place heavy objects, such as plants, beneath them. This will assist voters with visual disabilities.
- Print and signage - Directional signs should be simple, large and in high contrast to the background. Printed instructions should be provided in at least 18-point type. Provide handheld magnifying glasses.
- Voting booths - For people who must sit down to vote, make sure a voting machine is available. Also, ballots should be provided in large print or Braille for people with visual disabilities.
Q & A for Indiana voter registration
- How will I know if I am already registered?
You can call your county voter registration office* to find out if you are currently registered to vote.
- How do I get an absentee ballot?
Call your county election board and they will send
you an application.
- Where do I vote?
Ask your county voter registration office or check your local newspaper one to two days before the election.
- Do I have to choose a political party when I register?
No, you can choose
your political party on Election Day.
- Do I need an I.D. card to vote?
No.
- If I register now, am I permanently registered?
Yes, you are registered permanently unless you move.
- Can I register to vote at age 17 if I will be 18 on Election Day?
Yes.
- If I vote in a party's primary election, do I have to vote for that party in the general election?
No, ballots are cast secretly, so you can vote for another party in the general election.
*For your county voter regis-
tration office phone number
or additional information,
contact the Indiana Election Division at (317) 232-3939 (voice), (800) 622-4941
(voice), (317) 233-6793 (fax)
or visit their Web site at www.state.in.us/sos/elections.
Voter's research hotline
Project Vote Smart offers
an instant, free source for
finding all the information on candidates up for election. You can contact a researcher by
calling the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART
(1-888-868-3762). The researcher can provide you with:
- biographies
- campaign finance data
- issue stances from the Vote Smart National Political Awareness Test (NPAT)
- performance evaluations
by special interest groups
- voting records
The researcher has data
available for the president
and vice president of the
United States, governors,
congress and state legislators.
Absentee
ballots provide
a voting option
Once you are registered, you may vote by absentee ballot if you are: outside the county on election day; working in another poll on election day; confined because of illness, injury or
disability; at least 65 years old;
or scheduled to work during
the 12 hours the poll is open.
You must request an absentee ballot from your county circuit court clerk's office before the election. The application
deadline for absentee ballots
is noon on Nov. 6, 2000; ballots themselves must be at the election office by Nov. 6, 2000, to be counted. Absentee voting in the clerk's office begins 29 days (Oct. 9 for 2000 General Election) before the election, and will be available at least two Saturdays before election day, Nov. 7, 2000
Indiana, national offices up for election
Contact candidates to ask about their views on issues important to you.
Or, use these contacts to organize a candidate forum in your area.
Governor
U.S. Senator
Attorney General
Superintendent of
Public Instruction
Gerald E. McCullum
(Democrat)
(317) 229-2316 (voice)
Sam Goldstein
(Libertarian)
(800) 388-1776 (voice)
Suellen Kinder-Reed
(Republican)
(317) 232-6665 (voice)
www.doe.state.in.us/reed
President/Vice President
Al Gore/Joseph Lieberman
(Democrat)
(615) 340-2000 (voice)/(615) 340-3260 (TT)
www.algore2000.com
Pat Buchanan/Ezola Foster
(Independent)
(703) 734-2700 (voice)
www.buchananreform.com
Harry Browne/Art Olivier
(Libertarian)
(202) 521-1200 (voice - campaign office)
(800) 777-2000 (voice - information packet)
www.harrybrowne2000.org
George W. Bush/Dick Cheney
(Republican)
(512) 637-2000 (voice)
www.georgewbush.com
Candidates' names were taken from the 2000 General Election Candidate List from the Indiana Election Division. The list is available
at www.state.in.us/sos/elections/2000gen/
2000GeneralElect.html or by calling
(317) 232-3939 (voice). Candidates for the Green Party did not obtain enough signatures to appear on the Indiana ballot.
Selecting candidates to support requires research
Elections are often confusing, with
candidates firing accusations back
and forth. To get a clear understanding
of the candidates' views, the League of
Women Voters recommends this step-by-
step process.
- Decide what you are looking for in a candidate. List the issues you care about
and the qualities you want your leaders
to have. This will serve as a guide for evaluating the candidates once you
know more about them.
Research all announced candidates, including third party and independent candidates.
- Gather materials about the candidates.
Good sources of information are news media coverage and the candidates' own campaigns. Look for campaign literature, direct mail letters to voters, news stories, campaign ads, speeches and debates.
- Evaluate each candidate's stand on issues. The League suggests keeping a journal
as you find more information about the candidates. What impressions do you
have as you review your information?
What conclusions do you draw about
the candidates?
- Learn about the candidates' leadership abilities by:
- Looking at the candidates' backgrounds and experience.
- Observing the candidates' campaigns.
- Reviewing campaign materials.
- Learn how other people view the candidates. Other opinions can help you clarify your views. You could interview other well-informed voters, find out who had endorsed the candidates, examine financial contributions to their campaigns and monitor public opinion polls.
- Sort it all out. Ask yourself which candidate you agree with on most issues.
Voting is a right, but it comes with a responsibility to be informed about candidates and issues. By following these steps, you can feel confident that you are casting a vote for the right person - the candidate with whom
you agree on most issues and who has the leadership qualities you value.
The votes are in …
Hoosiers had the opportunity to evaluate their polling places after the Primary Election held on May 2.
The results from 189 polling places across Indiana represent 44 of the 92 counties. The following recommendations are in order of
the items that are in most need of attention statewide:
- Sidewalks leading to the polling place do not have curb cuts - 42 instances for 22%
- Polling place does not have ramps or is not barrier free - 31 instances for 16%
- Accessible parking is not clearly marked - 29 instances for 15%
- Available bathrooms are not accessible (wide aisle, bars, etc.) - 24 instances for 13%
- Accessible parking is not as close as possible to the entrance - 17 instances for 9%
- Doors to the polling place are not wide enough for people using wheelchairs or other assistive devices (walkers, canes, etc.) - 13 instances for 7%
- Accessible parking is not available -
12 instances for 6%
- There is not a clear path from the entrance to the voting area - 11 instances for 6%
- Assistants are not allowed in the voting booth - 4 instances for 2%
- If assistance was required, poll workers were not willing to help - 2 instances
for 1%
This survey was a joint project conducted
by ADA-Indiana, the Council and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.
For more information, contact the Indiana
Institute on Disability and Community at
(812) 855-6508 (voice).
Evaluating
candidates on disability issues
Sometimes it's hard to know where a candidate stands on
disability issues. Consider
these suggestions from United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCP), and other advocacy groups. Check to see if candidates:
- Schedule events at accessible times and locations.
- Hire American Sign Language interpreters at campaign events.
- Air television advertisements that are open or closed captioned, or video described.
- Make campaign literature available in alternative formats, including large print, Braille, audio tape or computer disk.
- Invite leaders in the disability community to strategy sessions, public forums and town meetings.
- Are familiar with disability issues and support the ADA in speeches and legislation.
- Have a voting record of supporting the disability community on issues including:
- Special education
- Health care
- Medicare/Medicaid
- Long-term care
- Job training and employment
- Housing
- Transportation
- Taxation
- Technology development
- Telecommunications access
- Supplemental security income (SSI/SSDI)
Changing seats
Common issues, such as the economy and education are often at the center of debate
during elections. This year an issue that has been around
for many years, but is often
forgotten, is the appointment
of U.S. Supreme Court justices by the newly-elected president.
The Supreme Court has not
had a vacancy in six years and could possibly have three new appointments this election year, affecting the United States for
30 to 40 years to come.
Recent votes in the Supreme Court have only passed on
a five to four vote and new appointments can change these close votes dramatically. Most notably for people with disabilities is the Olmstead case. The decision ruled that states place people in the most integrated settings rather than in state
hospitals and institutions. For people with disabilities and advocates alike, a president
who will support ADA, IDEA
and other disability-related issues, as well as appointing justices who will protect the
civil rights of people with
disabilities, needs to be elected.
As Nina Totenburg reported
on the Sept. 5 National Public Radio show called "All Things Considered," the possible new justices will have a lasting effect on America.
"A presidency loss lasts only a few years, but a switch of vote
in the Supreme Court could last decades and be a disaster or new found hope, depending
on your point of view," said Totenburg.
Politically speaking
People with disabilities can have a
powerful voice in the political process, but often candidates and the community are unaware of the sheer number of voters with disabilities.
United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCP) offers many suggestions to increase awareness of
the voting power of people with disabilities.
"We encourage people with disabilities to
be registered and to vote. That's the most important thing," UCP Executive Director Kirsten Nyrop said.
Other ideas to increase awareness of this
powerful group of voters include the following:
- Place voting reminders on all newsletters, stationary and other material your organization distributes.
- Recruit teams to provide transportation, registration and voting assistance to voters with disabilities.
- Write letters to the editor about the difficulties people with disabilities face when voting.
- Remind the media, and especially candidates, about the number of voters with disabilities.
- Recruit volunteer caregivers so parents of children with disabilities, or parents with disabilities, have time to vote.
- Educate candidates about the correct language to use regarding people with disabilities.
- Volunteer at local polling sites.
- Hold a candidate forum. (See related below)
- Survey candidates about the Americans with Disabilities Act or other disability issues. Publicize the results.
- Raise funds for candidates who are receptive to disability issues. (Check with election offices about rules regarding fund-raisers, because they are partisan activities.)
- Get personally involved. Join a political campaign, assist with fund raising, or run for office or a party position. Include people with disabilities in your campaign.
Where to register
Full-service voter
registration sites
At the following sites, employees offer assistance in filling out the form, and the agency returns the form to the appropriate county voter registration office for processing:
- Any Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branch
- Certain public assistance offices, including: Indiana State Department of Health, Women Infant and Children, and Family and Social Service Administration (FSSA) Division of Family and Children
- Disability offices, including: Indiana Area Agencies on Aging, FSSA Division of Disability, and Aging and Rehabilitation Services
- Armed Forces recruitment offices
- Board of Registration offices
- Workforce development offices offering unemployment compensation
- Certain city clerk, or clerk-treasurer or town clerk-treasurer offices
Mail-in voter registration
Mail-in voter registration forms can be used
by anyone to register others to vote. Pick up
a form at any of the following sites:
- BMV license branches
- Public libraries and county contractual libraries
- Certain disability offices (community mental health centers)
- Circuit court clerks' offices
- Township trustees' offices
- Public colleges and universities
- Public high schools or school corporations
- County extension educators' offices
- Certain city clerk, clerk-treasurer or town clerk-treasurer offices
- County voter registration office
- Indiana Election Division
Make informed choices -
organize a candidate forum
Candidate forums offer an excellent
setting to learn more about candidates' stands on issues relating to people with
disabilities. They also provide people with
disabilities the opportunity to ask candidates specific questions.
"Candidate forums serve a two-fold
purpose … we're teaching and educating
the candidates, and we're giving opportunities for people with disabilities to make informed
choices," said Sheri Caveda, director of United Voice, a coalition of independent organizations serving people with disabilities.
Follow these tips to organize a candidate forum in your community, so that voters and candidates can come together.
- Determine the candidates to invite, and for which races. The forum is most effective when opposing candidates for a particular office both attend.
- Plan a convenient time and location for the candidates and for people with
disabilities. Make sure the location is accessible. Give plenty of notice, because people with disabilities may need to schedule caregivers or make other arrangements, and candidates' schedules often fill far in advance.
- Call the candidates and invite them to the forum, explaining your expectations and goals for the event. Be enthusiastic, and present this as an opportunity for the candidate to reach voters. Mention that opposing candidates have also been invited.
- Send a follow-up letter to each candidate. Give the details of the forum, such as time, location and format, and your own contact information. Mention how many voters and candidates you expect to attend and list possible topics of discussion.
- Invite as many people, both with and without disabilities, as possible. Make posters and fliers, and distribute them throughout the community. Make personalized notices, and follow up with phone calls or reminders.
- Let the media know about your forum.
Send a media advisory to newspapers and television and radio stations. After a few days, call the media outlets to make sure they received the materials, and encourage them to send a reporter.
- A few days before the event, reconfirm with the candidates and with the building manager at the forum location.
- At the event, introduce yourself and the candidates. You can give each candidate
a set amount of time to speak, or have a moderator pose questions to each candidate. You should allow time for audience questions, and arrange before-hand for specific audience members to ask questions.
- Provide voter registration forms at the event.
- After the event, send thank you letters to the candidates and to media that covered your event. Send a follow-up news release to media that did not attend, mentioning who attended and a brief summary of what was discussed.
Online sites to help voters
Candidates are now more
accessible thanks to the Internet. The following Web sites will help you research candidates running in the 2000 election.
- www.jfanow.org
Justice For All Disability Rights Network - Sign up to receive regular e-mail on national political and legislative issues or search the archives to find out what statements the presidential candidates have made on disability issues.
- www.vote-smart.org
Project Vote Smart - On this nonpartisan site, you can access candidates' issues positions and voting records.
- www.publicagenda.org
Public Agenda - Download election guides and research specific issues on this site.
- www.electionsearch2000.org
Election Search - Easy links to candidates' campaign Web sites for the major
2000 races.
- www.ivillage.com/election
iVillage.com - The "Candidate Match-o-Matic" takes your views from a questionnaire and matches your views to the most similar candidate.
- www.usatoday.com
USA Today - The "On the Issues" section of the Campaign 2000 area details candidates' views on major issues, including Medicare and Social Security.
- www.debexar.com/elecnet/index.cfm
ELECnet - This site provides more than 400 links to election-related sites.
Of Note
Save the date
The 2000 Indiana Conference for People with Disabilities has already been set. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 12 and 13. The annual conference will be held at the Indianapolis Downtown Westin. Registration forms will be sent soon.
Election list serve now available
Americans with Disabilities for Democracy
has established a nationwide list serve to
provide pertinent information on issues
that affect people with disabilities in the upcoming election. Mark Smith from
America for All moderates the list serve.
To subscribe, send a message to: AmericanswithdisabilitiesforDemocracy-subscribe@egroups.com
Be sure to put SUBSCRIBE on the message line and as the first line of the message. Do not put anything else in the message. For questions, contact Americans with Disabilities for Democracy at (601) 969-1920 (voice).
Special education workshop
The Indiana Governor's Council
for People with Disabilities, Indiana
Protection and Advocacy Services and
the Indiana Parent Information Network,
Inc. are co-sponsoring a workshop by
Carolyn Romano and Janet Vohs of the Federation for Children with Special Needs
in Boston, Mass., called "Conflict Resolution: Building Partnerships." The workshop is
Sept 24-26. For more information, contact Louann Davis, IPIN, at (317) 257-8683 (voice), (317) 251-7488 (fax) or FamilyNetw@aol.com.
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