Last week was Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW). DVRW was celebrated from September 9-13 and was promoted by the American Association of People with Disabilities. In partnership with the REV Up campaign, DVRW advocated for voters with disabilities, regardless of their political view. This nonpartisan effort amplifies the representation and voices of voters with disabilities.
As much as 40 million Americans with disabilities are eligible to vote. Despite voters with disabilities accounting for a large voting group across the country, many encounter obstacles that make it difficult to vote in their communities. During the week, anyone is welcome to participate in events and social media campaigns to help raise awareness. Through DVRW, events help support the following issues:
- Voter Registration
- Voting Education
- Involvement in Disability Issues
Voting registration drives are held around the country to help voters with disabilities register in their county before the election. Candidate discussions help educate all voters on each candidate’s policy proposals and how they relate to their daily lives. Online organizing and advocacy includes social media campaigns to help promote disabled voter rights.
In 2023, over 50 DVRW events took place in 31 U.S. states. These events once again helped register voters and interact with local government and election officials to advocate for voters with disabilities. Some events included music and art displays to raise awareness. To join Disability Voting Rights Week, you can take advantage of DVRW resources and learn more about events in your area.
To learn more about DVRW, visit the Disability Voting Rights webpage on the AAPD website. To join the DVRW movement, fill out the campaign’s form and access all the resources available.
To see voter information by state by state, visit the following link: State-by-state voter information