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Public Policy

The goal of the Disability Policy Collaboration is to impact national public policy for people with developmental disabilities, including those with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, and their friends, families and loved ones.

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Advocacy Tools: Legislative Advocacy

Five Easy Action Steps For A Voter Registration Drive

Any individual, organization or affiliate advocacy committee can embark upon a non-partisan voter registration drive for the disability community and others.

  1. Appoint a Coordinator: Appoint one person to oversee and coordinate voter registration activities. This person should ensure that the agency has an adequate supply of the state's mail-in voter registration forms at all times. Forms can be obtained from the local elections office.

    The same person or another should make sure all forms and notices in the agency are amended to state voter registration is now an activity conducted at the agency.

  2. Amend Forms & Procedures Agency forms and procedures should be amended to include the question: "If you are not registered to vote where you now live, would you like to register here today?"

    If it is not possible to redesign intake forms, rubber stamps with this question are available for $5. Contact HumanSERVE, Tel: (212) 854-4053 or FAX your request (212) 854-8727 or write and send a check to them at HumanSERVE, 622 West 113th Street, Suite 410, New York, NY 10025.

  3. Help Families & Persons With Disabilities Offer to help a person with a disability or family member with completing the voter registration form. This may include typing or writing the information clearly for a person with cerebral palsy whose handwriting is unclear. It may include clarifying what the questions mean. It may mean filling out the form for a person who is unable to write. It may mean checking to be sure the application is filled out properly. It could mean assisting with getting a birth or citizenship record.

  4. Mail In The Registration Form You should offer to mail it to the appropriate elections office. Get the address in advance. Maintain a record of how many people register to vote through your agency so you can let elected officials know who are their voting constituents.

  5. Be Knowledgeable Obtain answers to commonly asked questions from your local or state elections office. For example, people will ask: "How will I know if I am registered?" or "Where do I go to vote?" or "How do I get an absentee ballot?" or "Do I need an ID card when I vote?" or "Can I register to vote at age 17 if I will be 18 on election day?" or "How do I register if I am homeless or don't have a permanent address?" or "How do I know or prove if I am a U.S. citizen?" or "If I register, am I permanently registered?" or "Do I have to choose a political party when I register?" or "If I vote in a party's primary election do I have to vote for that party in the general election?" or "How do I switch parties?"

VOTE EARLY! VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL, STATE, CONGRESSIONAL AND PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY! SHOW THE POWER OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY!

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