Many Disabled People Unable To Vote

[wildflower]

Many Disabled People Unable To Vote
Accessibility Standards Lacking, Advocates Say

snip

Dickson said there is no concerted effort nationwide to make polls more accessible, though some states are making more progress than others.

One explanation for the lack of uniformity is the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984, which Dickson said lacked enforcement mechanisms.

snip

Accessibility is not the only adversity encountered by voters with disabilities. According to the National Organization on Disability, 21 percent of adults with disabilities said their mental or physical abilities have been questioned at polls, and 12 percent said alternative voting formats, such as computer-assisted voting booths, were not available. Other problems mentioned by disabled voters were a lack of large-print ballots, absence of sign language interpreters and being denied help in using a voting machine.

snip

“When I see a polling place that has one or two steps to get in — that is discrimination. It's like saying, ‘No Gays, No African-Americans.' It's telling me I can't get in,” said Lewis.

read the full article at

http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=FD156E02-0A72-4AF8-B831-DE40975C8490

It's so hard for me to cut these down to 4 paragraphs!

ON EDIT: If you know people who are disabled and need help voting, please do all you can!

[Claire Beth]

1. They should have gotten absentee ballots...

that is what we did for my mother-in-law who is handicapped. We mailed her ballot last week.

[wildflower]

3. Some disabled/ill people have problems getting absentee ballots as well...

(and filling them out) because of the effect of the illness on the brain and body.

This is what the article actually says about absentee ballots:

<<Often, disabled people are encouraged to vote by absentee ballot. But many, like Jessie Jane Lewis, find that option unsatisfactory.

“I really have to make a point of showing up,” said Lewis. She has filed lawsuits asking for accessible polling places twice since 2000 in Philadelphia “to put the city on notice that I'm not gonna go away, and disabled people are not just gonna go away.”>>

I wish they had talked about the other reasons.

-wildflower

[DemBones DemBones]

4. No way! Some of us disabled people WANT to vote in public, just like

"abled" people. Saying we "should vote absentee" is discriminatory.

I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, and it's acceptable for disabled people to choose to vote absentee IF it is their choice, but we are supposed to have the same rights that everyone else does. That means access to the polls at public polling places.

[Claire Beth]

7. Let me make a correction...that is not what was I saying at all....

I agree there should be handicap access to all voting locations and any handicap person who wants to vote in person SHOULD! I just meant there are plenty of handicapped people who (like my mother in law) would not be able to vote if it weren't for absentee ballots and it would be better to vote absentee than to not vote at all. Sorry if my original post came across as being discrimantory. It wasn't meant that way. :hi:

[0007]

8. With a doubt! 'Tis a little to late for the Register Office

to mail a ballot out. Perhaps someone could pick ballet up and deliver and put it in the mail?
I've gotton many fixed up in Midland Texas.

Vote as if your life depended on it, because it does.

Call 866 687-8683
If Poll Workers refuse you to vote for any reason
If there is a late opening or early closing of a polling place.
If your polling place runs out of ballots or has an incorrect ballot
If you experience poll worker insensitivity or discrimination in the voting process

The civil rights community have set up a toll-free Election Day hotline. This line is
staffed now and, in addition to logging your complaint, the civil rights organizations have law
students and attorneys who can provide assistance on Election Day.

the hotline number is
866 687-8683
202 457-0473 fax

[aquart]

2. I thought that was the principle excuse for bbv?

The crappy machines haven't helped?

[AndyTiedye]

5. Probably Made it Worse

These machines like to switch your selections to Republican.
Fully-abled voters have often had difficulty actually casting
a Democratic vote on those things.

Disabled voters might not be able to tell when their selection
got changed by the machine, and may end up voting for the wrong candidate.

[ecoalex]

6. My Ca. absentee ballot

allowed for a second party to assist in voting, they had to sign and attest they voted the ballot as the addressee had intended.The physically challenged should vote at home. I don't understand the got to go and vote at the polls mentality, especially for the handicapped.To force ramps and other handicapped friendly structures for elections every two years, when polls move constantly is absurd. The militant physically challenged lobby is absurd when it comes to polling places.Vote at home, noone is trying to take away your right to vote.

[Unperson 309]

14. I Will Tell You Why!

Ever since I was first able to vote, I have voted. Election after election, I stepped up to the booth, took the stylus in hand and voted. I left six inches taller, every time.

When my eyesight began to go, it was harder and harder... but still I voted AT the polls ON election day! I was a full participant and that meant a LOT!

Then one year, my eyes were so bad, (and I didn't realize how they had changed) I could not read the machine! I messed up one ballot, then another... and finally I had to ask a poll worker to help me. She did and, in a kind "Poor baby" tone of voice she said "Next time, you can vote absentee..."

Shakily, I gathered the shreds of my dignity and left the polls... only getting about half a block before sitting down on a bench and weeping! I cannot TELL you the sheer, frustrating HUMILIATION of that kind voice!

Marking a ballot weeks in advance and dropping it in the mail is NOT the same as going to the polls! Imagine if you were told you would never drive a car again! That someone would always pick you up and take you where you wanted to go, no matter where or when. It might be fine in principle, but dammit don't you want to get behind the wheel of your OWN car and drive under your OWN power?!

Voting is a ritual, a rite of passage and a sacred trust. PART of the ritual is that trip to the polling booths! Yes, advancing age and dimming eyesight will one day remove my ability to vote at the polls forever, and when that day comes I will be very sorrowful. My eyes are god enough, again, thanks to surgery, but the day will come again, I know it... and I HATE that!

Yes, two water fountains make for shorter lines (to quote Comedy central) but it doesn't make it RIGHT!

309

By the way... I voted this morning and it felt damn GOOD!

[thecrow]

9. My son voted on crutches!!!

I am so proud of him. He could have easily said"oh the bother" but he asked me to pick him up and drive him to the polls.
He just broke his leg on Thursday and had surgery done on it on Saturday! I don't know if this picture thing is working...

[teevee99]

10. I consider republicans mentally disabled.

where does that put us?

[Pastiche423]

11. Four years ago

I posted on the largest online message board for people w/physical disabilites. I asked how my fellow crips voted. The overwhelming method was by mail.

Jim Dickson is a blind alarmist who seeks media attention, not help for the disabled. He hurts the disabled community w/his public (video taped) hissy fits.

Two yeas ago, I sent him many emails requesting dialogue on organization for the disabled to vote. He answered none of them.

It really pisses me off when he portrays us as bumbling idiots. We are not. This year, in co-operation w/other groups, I began a movement to push mail-in/absentee voting soon after the mid-term elections.

Granted, we could not reach everyone, but we did reach a huge amount. His opinion is not reality.

[Riddler]

12. I spent the morning driving people to the polls, and one lady was

handicapped. My town in NC had curbside voting and an election official brought the ballot out to the car to her and let her fill it out there. I wonder how many other areas have that, and if it's all over NC or up to the local elections boards whether to offer it or not.

[Fleshdancer]

15. That sounds wonderful

I've never heard of curbside voting before. Interesting

[jwirr]

13. I am glad to see that many of you are getting to vote

be it with absentee ballots or machines. My daughter is severely developmentally disabled and will never be able to vote (I am not allowed to vote for her as her guardian) so I thank each and every one of you for voting. I did too. It is the only way to help those who would never be allowed to vote due to inability to understand the issues.