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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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Voter Rights

National Voter Registration Act Implementation

If Americans with disabilities vote at the same rate as people without disabilities there would be at least five million additional votes cast November 7, 2000. A major reason for the failure of most Americans with disabilities to vote is they are not registered to vote. With Rights Come Responsibilities.

  • In 1993 the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA or Motor Voter) was signed into law.
  • Section 7a of the NVRA requires all public and private agencies serving people with disabilities to offer voter registration to their clients at in-take, re-certification, and change of address. If an agency's services are not provided in agency offices the person who provides itinerant services must also offer voter registration services.
  • If the individual declines to register to vote the agency must obtain the individual's signature on a declination form and keep that form on file for 22 months.
  • Some agencies, but by no means all, that are covered under this law include: Vocational/Rehabilitation; Special Education; Commissions for the Deaf and the Blind; Para-transit Providers; Independent Living Centers; Disability Specific Service Providers such as ARCs, MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Associations, UCPs, etc.
  • Most disability agencies are in violation of the NVRA. A 1998 National Organization on Disability/Harris poll reports that only 25% of people with disabilities have been asked by a service provider to register to vote.

Contact the service providers in your area and ask the questions on the following questionnaire.
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National Voter Registration Act - Implementation Questionnaire Form

Agency Name: __________________________________________

Agency Address: ________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Agency Phone: __________________________________________

Contact Person: _________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________

Questions:

  1. Does your agency offer the opportunity to register to vote to your clients as part of intake? ________ YES __________ NO

  2. Does your agency offer the opportunity to register to vote to your clients as they receive services from your agency?
    ________ YES __________ NO

  3. Does your agency keep records of those clients who decline to register to vote? ________ YES __________ NO

  4. Who in your agency is in charge of ensuring that your agency complies with the National Voter Registration Act?

    _______________________________________________________

    Name of surveyor: _______________________________________

    Address: _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________

    Phone Number: _________________________________________

Please return this information to Adina Topfer, National Organization on Disability, 910 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 or by e-mail. See additional voting links, including links to online voter registration.