A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
By the U.S. Department of Justice September 2005. This summary of disability rights laws has two sections about voting rights: Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act and the National Voter Registration Act. These short (1 paragraph) summaries include contact information for the appropriate group within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Absentee Voting by People with Disabilities: Promoting Access and Integrity
By the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2007. This article talks about absentee voting and accessible voting. It claims the most important reform, however, is a move toward “no excuse” absentee voting.
Alternative Accessible Formats
By The Catskill Center for Independence Project HAVA December 2008. This 2 page document talks about the what, when and why of accessible formats for voting forms and information, as well as examples of specific documents.
America Goes to the Polls: A Report on Voter Turnout in the 2008 Election
By the Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network. This report shares information about voter turnout in each of the states. The report looks at how voter turnout is effected by campaign spending, whether the state is a swing state, and the availability of election day registration. The report also looks at the growing number of youth voters, people who vote early, the Latino vote, and the African American vote.
ASSISTING VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES: Guidelines For Providing Help To Voters Requesting Assistance
Oregon 2008, This PowerPoint presentation informs people about how voters needing help can receive it. It also covers how to help voters with disabilities, as well as what is not allowed when helping someone vote. It discusses how to vote, which is specific to Oregon, a vote-by-mail state.
Barriers to Voting in a Private, Independent and Verifiable Manner
By the American Council of the Blind, September 2002. This 6 page summary identifies barriers that make it hard for people who are blind and visually impaired to cast their votes in a private, independent, and verifiable manner. The article also talks about how these barriers may be overcome.
Defining and Assessing Capacity to Vote: The Effect of Mental Impairment on the Rights of Voters
This 88 page report looks at issues of guardianship law and voting rights. By University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2007.
Fact Sheet for Voters with Disabilities
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This two page fact sheet gives information on voting. It was created for people with disabilities.
Fact Sheet for Voters with Disabilities IN SPANISH
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This two page fact sheet gives information IN SPANISH on voting. It was created for people with disabilities.
Memo in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment May 2006
This 45 page memo is from a guardianship case in the state of Missouri. The plaintiffs claimed that Missouri’s voting ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the plaintiffs should be allowed to vote.
Ohio Directive – Reasonable Accommodation for Disabled Absentee Voters who are Homebound
The court’s order requires all 88 county boards of elections to provide an opportunity for voters with disabilities to correct errors on their absentee ballot envelopes at the request of those voters. This information was created after a court ruling in the case Ray v. the Franklin County Board of Elections, et al.,. on November 17, 2008.
Plaintiffs Reply to Defendants Suggestions in Opposition to Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgmen
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May 2006, This 8 page pdf is from a guardianship case in the state of Missouri. The plaintiffs claimed that Missouri’s voting ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the plaintiffs should be allowed to vote.
Plaintiffs Suggestions in Opposition to Defendants Motion for Summary Judgment April 2006
This 39 page pdf is from a guardianship case in the state of Missouri. The plaintiffs claimed that Missouri’s voting ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and that the plaintiffs should be allowed to vote.
Pollworkers: Working with Voters with Disabilities by The Catskill Center for Independence Project HAVA
This 35 slide training for poll workers was designed to provide poll workers and other election officials with information about the requirements of the Help America Vote Act. Topics include: disability awareness, service animals, physical accessibility for polling sites and other information from HAVA.
Protection & Advocacy Voting Access Programs Helping to Expand and Ensure Access to Polling Places
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By the National Disability Rights Network August 2009. This 24 page report talks about voting laws and prior GAO reports on voting access and polling places. It talks about how P & A programs are improving accessibility at the polls.
The Power of VOTING! Voting Guide by the National Youth Leadership Network
This 9 page voting guide is aimed at youth with disabilities. It provides information (including web links) on voting laws, registering to vote, ways of voting, accessing polling places, and finding information on candidates and issues.
The Power of VOTING! Voting Guide SPANISH by the National Youth Leadership Network
This 9 page voting guide IN SPANISH is aimed at youth with disabilities. It provides information (including web links) on voting laws, registering to vote, ways of voting, accessing polling places, and finding information on candidates and issues.
The Riot! October 2008 Elections Issue
This is the 2008 Elections Issue of The Riot!, an e-newsletter from the Self-Advocate Leadership Network. This issue talks about the 2008 election, as well as general voting issues.
US Election Assistance Commission Management Guide on Elderly and Disabled Voters in Long Term Care
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This guide is designed to highlight and summarize information from the Election Management Guidelines. It talks about voting accessibility issues for seniors and people with disabilities in Long Term Care Facilities.
Video: Ben Borroel from Colorado talks about how voting is a right
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Video: Bernard King from New Jersey talks about how voting is a right
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Video: Chester Finn from New York talks about how voting is a right
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Video: Julie Petty from Arkansas talks about how voting is a right
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Video: Patricia Jones from Arizona talks about how voting is a right
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Video: Ricky Broussard from Texas talks about the importance of voting
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Video: Victor Robinson from Washington, D.C. talks about how voting is a right
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VOTE. It’s Your Right: A Guide to the Voting Rights of People with Mental Disabilities
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By the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and National Disability Rights Network, 2008.This 37 page Voting Guide explains the rights of voters with mental disabilities. It can be a resource for people with mental disabilities, advocates, family members, service providers, election officials, and others. The guide focuses on four areas: voter-competence requirements, state photo-ID laws, voter challenges and providing help to voters with disabilities. It includes a chart listing each state’s voter-competence laws.
Voting and You
A PowerPoint presentation from the National Youth Leadership Network covering access to voting, registering to vote, web resources for more information, learning about the issues and candidates, and how to vote.
We Have Human Rights: A Human Rights Handbook for People with Developmental Disabilities
By The Harvard Project on Disability, 2008. This book is designed for people with disabilities as well at their friends, families, and people who work on disability issues. It has an international focus and deals with human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It can be used to learn about your rights, including your right to vote, and how to talk with others about your rights.
www.justice.gov
Information anout the laws the the United States Department of Justice enforces.
www.mylegalaid.org
This website has links to legal resources and information about voting in Minnesota including a video and a Bill of Rights for voters.
Your Voice Your Vote Kentucky Protection & Advocacy Voting Guide September 2004
This 18 page voting guide clearly explains voting rights, who is eligible to vote, and instructions for people with disabilities in Kentucky.
Your Voice Your Vote PowerPoint Presentation by Kentucky Protection & Advocacy September 2004
This PowerPoint presentation was created to go with the Your Voice Your Vote voting guide. This broad presentation covers voting rights, who is eligible to vote, and instructions for people with disabilities in Kentucky.