Wisconsin Celebrates Disability Voting Rights Week

September 12 – 16 is Disability Voting Rights Week, a national, nonpartisan initiative to build the power of the disability vote and increase awareness of voting rights. The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition and our partners are holding events to further the participation of voters with disabilities, increase awareness of voting rights and accessibility, and provide education about guardianship and voting rights.  Join us to register, educate, and prepare voters with disabilities to vote in the November election.

We have a message for disabled voters: Your vote is your right and your vote is powerful. There are over 38 million people with disabilities who are eligible to vote. However, discrimination, inaccessible voting processes, and exclusion from democracy lead to a turnout gap between voters with and without disabilities. We continue to hear from Wisconsinites with disabilities about the barriers they experience including poor access to transportation, inaccessible polling places, lack of acceptable photo ID, confusion about ballot return assistance, and limited awareness about voting rights and accommodations on the part of poll workers and many voters.

The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition and our partners ask you to join us to raise the disability voice and encourage civic participation.  Here’s how to participate:

Wisconsin Disability Voting Rights Week Events 

Event information is also available online: 

• https://disabilityvote.org/2022/disability-voting-rights-week/

City of Milwaukee Celebrates Disability Voting Rights Week Press Event, September 12, 10:45 AM, Independence First 540 S. 1st 

Mayor Cavalier Johnson, City of Milwaukee Election Commission Director Claire Woodall-Vogg, and voters with disabilities will kick off Disability Voting Rights Week. The program will include remarks from Scott Luber and Martha Chambers, plaintiffs in Carey v. WEC and a demonstration of accessible voting.  Masks required.  Space is limited.
Contact barbarab@drwi.org or call 414-292-2724

Guardianship and Voting Rights, September 14, 11:30 – 12:30 on Zoom

Join us on Zoom to learn about voting rights for people under guardianship. We will discuss how voting rights are addressed in the guardianship process, and the process for restoring the right to vote.  A new video will be shown featuring self-advocate Jen Kratsch sharing how she got her right to vote restored.

• Register here: bit.ly/3dngkKC
• For more information: https://disabilityrightswi.org/…/guardianship-and…/

Voting Rights Matter Lunch and Learn, September 15, 11:30 – 12:30 on Zoom

Join the WI Disability Vote Coalition on Zoom for important information about voting rights.  A panel of voters with disabilities will share information about voting rights and accommodations. You will hear the latest voting updates, what to do if you have a problem voting and how to take action to protect your voting rights.

• Register here: https://bit.ly/VoterAdvocacy
• View the Lunch and Learn flyer here .

Madison Disability Voting Rights Press Event, September 15, 9 – 9:30 AM Madison City Hall/Dane County Clerk’s Office Lobby, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Deputy Clerk Jim Verbick and voters with disabilities will talk about voting rights, barriers for voters with disabilities and why your vote matters.  Try out an accessible voting machine and get valuable resources.  All are welcome!  For information, contact Jennifer Neugart Jennifer.Neugart@wisconsin.gov.

Empowering the Disability Vote: Civic engagement for the disability community and their allies September 15, 7 – 8:30 PM on Zoom  

Join us to hear about voting rights for people with disabilities, and recent legal developments, including a litigation update from Attorney Scott Thompson, Law Forward. Hosted by the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.  Speakers include Barbara Beckert, Dorothy Dean, Denise Jess, Scott Thompson.

• Event information:  Empowering the Disability Vote: Civic Engagement for the Disability Community and Their Allies | MyLO (lwv.org)
• Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvduGorzojG9er_522u4Eqj_4f4gnWCC4I

About the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition

The WDVC is a non-partisan effort to help ensure full participation in the entire electoral process of voters with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places.  The Coalition is coordinated by Disability Rights Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities and includes people with disabilities and over 40 community organizations. 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.