Elections matter. No matter who you are, the policy decisions that elected officials make at all levels of government will have an effect on your life, for better or worse.
This is especially true for people with disabilities. According to The American Progress, “People with disabilities have lifetimes’ worth of experience navigating the United States’ systems of health care, social services, and employment—systems that historically have been slow to evolve to meet their needs.”
In other words, people with disabilities often don’t have the luxury of limiting their interactions with the government and they have a unique perspective when it comes to things like qualifying for disability benefits, affording medical treatment, and finding accessible public transportation. Therefore, policy decisions that touch the lives of people with disabilities should not be made without input from the disability community.
And yet, too often that’s exactly what happens. One of those reasons for this is a lack of elected officials who have disabilities themselves. There are prominent figures serving today like Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) and United States Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), but the number is small. In fact, The Disability Network (TDN) calls the lack of elected officials with disabilities “a systemic issue.”
That’s because representation matters. TDN explains, “People from marginalized groups have a higher chance of bringing up issues that pertain to their respective group.” When people with disabilities aren’t at the decision making table, even the most well-meaning policy makers might not consider their unique needs and desires.
That is why it’s so important for people with disabilities to vote.
As the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) puts it, “Our community is big, diverse, and pays attention to a wide range of issues. Like every other voter, we often care most about the policies that affect our everyday lives.”
TDN points out that “the disability community [is] the largest minority group” in the country. While far from a monolith, the potential power of people with disabilities as a voting bloc is huge. Unfortunately, many people with disabilities experience obstacles when it comes to voting.
According to USA.GOV, “After the November 2022 midterm elections, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) estimated that if voters with disabilities had voted at the same rates as voters without disabilities, there would be around 2 million more votes cast.”
With so many races decided by narrow margins, these votes could decide election outcomes. That is, if voting was accessible everywhere.
According to TDN, “People with disabilities have been shown to face more problems when voting. This number might go up because 14 states have put new voting restrictions in place for the 2024 presidential election. These include having shorter periods for absentee ballots, limiting who can aid a person in returns, earlier voter registration deadlines, and more.” These measures can have a detrimental effect on voters with disabilities, whether that is the intended outcome or not.
TDN points out that there is good news for Michigan voters, however: “Michigan is 1 of 23 states that passed voting laws to make the process easier, which will apply to this election cycle.”
Michigan voting laws that make voting more accessible include expanded access to absentee voting, early in-person voting, and accessibility at polling locations on election day. When a voter with a disability arrives to vote in person, whether at an early voting location or their polling place, they can expect that the location will be accessible to them. If it is not, they have the right to vote curbside. In addition, each in-person voting location is required to have a Voter Assist Terminal (VAT), which TDN describes as “touch screen machines that will mark a ballot with the voter’s choice and will be counted along with the other ballots.”
As the NDRN puts it, “Our right to access as voters with disabilities is guaranteed by law. No matter how you need to vote, whether by mail or in person, it is our right to participate in the political process.”
Democracy works best when more people participate in it. So be sure to access the power of your vote between now and Nov. 5. People with disabilities must show that they are too numerous to ignore and push elected officials and candidates to advocate for a more inclusive and accessible democracy and world.
If you are a voter with a disability in Michigan, find your way to vote below!
Michigan’s Centers for Independent Living are also available to answer any questions you might have about voting.