PROJECT PROJECT Presented by: Blurry Screen Slide 1

PROJECTPROJECT

Presented by:

Blurry Screen Slide 1

Purpose of the TrainingPurpose of the TrainingTo Learn About

Voting issues How to register to vote How to go to the polls and vote Where you can vote What might get in your way when you go to

vote. How to build connections across local and

state agencies, self-advocates, family members, elected officials and legislators to increase voting participation of people with disabilities.

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Get to Know Each OtherGet to Know Each Other

Instructions: Use these questions to interview your partner and get to know them.

Ask your partner: What is your name? Where are you from? What is the reason you came to this

training? What would you be doing if you were not

working today?

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How Voting FitsHow Voting FitsInto Your LifeInto Your Life

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How How has voting made a has voting made a difference in the lives of difference in the lives of people with disabilitiespeople with disabilities??

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Things to Vote OnThings to Vote On

President

Senator

Representative

Governor

Mayor

County Commissioner

City Council Members

Taxes, Bonds

School Board Members

Measures, Propositions, Issues

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Vote For Your Favorite CandyVote For Your Favorite Candy

Chocolate

Lollipop

Hard Candy

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Registering to VoteRegistering to Vote

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Who Can RegisterWho Can Registerto Vote in the USA?to Vote in the USA?

Basic federal rules to be able to Basic federal rules to be able to register to vote:register to vote: You must be 18 years old

You must be a resident in your community and live our state for at least ____ days before the election

You must be a citizen of the United States

You do not have to read, write, or be able You do not have to read, write, or be able to use the voting machinesto use the voting machines

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Who Can Register ?Who Can Register ?

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Put Your Put Your State Map State Map HereHere

Places People CanPlaces People CanRegister to VoteRegister to Vote

Post office Town halls Grocery stores Libraries Department of Human Resources Department of Public Health Medicaid Agency Department of Rehab Services–Voc Rehab

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Places People Can Places People Can Register to VoteRegister to Vote

Some four-year Universities Some Colleges Where you get your ID On-line on the web Go to govoter.org, click on state

contacts, then click on your state for your Secretary of State’s information about voting

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Places People Can Places People Can Register to VoteRegister to Vote

Election Board Disability provider agencies

examples: Arc and Centers for Independent Living

League of Woman Voters

Are there any other ways that people Are there any other ways that people

can register to vote?can register to vote?

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Support OTHERS to RegisterSupport OTHERS to Register

Rights and Rights and ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

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Rights Responsibilities

Voting RightsVoting RightsThe Help America Vote ActThe Help America Vote Act

(HAVA) (HAVA) is a federal law that makes voting is a federal law that makes voting accessible and says states must:accessible and says states must: Make sure that everyone can vote

privately and independently Set up a statewide system to give people

provisional ballots if there is a question about whether they can vote

Create statewide computerized voter lists Makes sure polling places have access

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Voting RightsVoting Rights You You cancan bring someone you bring someone you

trust to help you vote:trust to help you vote:poll workers can not can not deny you this support person

There are some people who There are some people who can notcan not help you vote: help you vote:your boss union officer from your jobcandidate who is on the ballot

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Voting RightsVoting Rights

You can ask for help from election You can ask for help from election officials from two different parties.officials from two different parties.

Poll workers cancan help you with the voting process. Poll workers can notcan not tell you who to vote for or explain the issues in simpler terms.

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You can get a new ballot if You can get a new ballot if you make a mistakeyou make a mistake

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes and it is your right to be given a new ballot if you make a mistake on your first one. You can get up to two replacement ballot.

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You can ask for a You can ask for a provisional ballot if youprovisional ballot if youare told that you can’tare told that you can’tvote for some reason. vote for some reason.

But states may not count these ballots, so it is best to ask them to show proof of why you cannot vote before asking for a provisional ballot.

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You do not need to You do not need to have a disability to use have a disability to usethese machines. these machines.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) says that every polling place must have an accessible voting booth to help people vote privately and independently.

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Voting ResponsibilitiesVoting Responsibilities

Make sure you are registered to vote

Know the issues and candidates

Ask questions if you need some help

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Be a role model as an informed voter. Get out and vote!

Help someone else to learn how to vote

Celebrate your choice and your voice

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Get involved, in other ways, with voting and elections.

Call your Election Board to find out where you can register to vote and VOTE on election day.


Ask a poll worker for voting information in Braille, in large print, on tape, or in other accessible formats.

The League of Woman Voters is available to support you in getting information on candidates and issues. In some states they make an “easy to read” voters guide.

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My VoteMy VoteThey say I can’t voteThey say the decision is not mineThey say I don’t understandI guess they think they are being kindI wonder what they would say or think if they

only knewThat when they call the President “Our

President”,I want to call him mine tooIf I never get the chance to vote – pulling the

lever, punching the card or writing his name down.

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My VoteMy Vote

I stay the same, - dumb, misinformed, unchanged, un-empowered.

That is what this world expects me to be. But I want so much more.I want to be the most educated – the most

informed – the most totally changed – the most totally empowered person that I can be when I vote.

I can make a difference and then I can say with pride, “Not yours, not theirs, but my President because I put him there.”

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Ways to Learn About Ways to Learn About Candidates and IssuesCandidates and Issues

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Have a Legislative Day

Call for an appointment with your legislator

Look up candidates voting records

Read your local newspaper. Cut out articles, save and read them later

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Read your Voter’s Manual

Listen to the voter’s manual if your state has it available on CD

Talk with family and friends

Listen to the radio and T.V. and talk shows

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Tell stories and share your voting experiences with others

Make a checklist of what is important to you and check if the candidates share your idea

Someone who supports you

It should be someone you trust

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Educates and works with parents, self-advocates and staff

Invite someone from the League of Woman Voters

Invite an elected officials to speak with your group

What are some of the other ways youWhat are some of the other ways you can learn about the candidates and can learn about the candidates and issuesissues??

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Role Play: Meeting CandidatesRole Play: Meeting Candidates

- Who would you vote for?- Who would you vote for?- Why did you vote for them?- Why did you vote for them?- What would change your mind?- What would change your mind?

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How Do You Vote?How Do You Vote?

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How Do You Vote?How Do You Vote? Mail in my ballot With a touch-screen voting

machine at a polling place With a paper ballot at a

polling place Mail in an absentee ballot Early voting at the polling

place What are other ways What are other ways

that people can votethat people can vote??

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““I’m talking to you”I’m talking to you”““I’m talking to you”I’m talking to you”

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Add picture or video here about your state voting machine. Or a map of which counties use different voting machines.

Possible Polling PlacesPossible Polling Places

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LIBRARYLIBRARY


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HOUSE OF WORSHIPHOUSE OF WORSHIP


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POLICE DEPARTMENTPOLICE DEPARTMENT


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SCHOOLSCHOOL


House of worship School Library Courthouse

City Hall Private home Restaurant Police or fire station

Recreational or community center

What are other possible polling placesWhat are other possible polling places??

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Getting AroundGetting AroundVoting ProblemsVoting Problems

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How to Get AroundHow to Get AroundVoting ProblemsVoting Problems

Problem: You are in the voting booth and you don’t know what to do.

Strategy: Strategy: Bring support with you, ask a poll worker to help, or ask for an audio tape or something else to make it accessible.

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Problem: No or limited accessible parking at the polling place

Strategy:Strategy: Ask if other street parking is available. If no other street parking is available then ask the poll worker to come to your car so that you can vote.

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Problem: Inaccessible route from the parking lot to the polling place door.

Strategy: Strategy: Ask about other ways to get in into the building.

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Problem: Poll worker can not read your writing.

Strategy:Strategy: Make a mark or bring a signature stamp to the polls when you go to vote

You may need to fill out a form that says You may need to fill out a form that says how you will be signing your ballot how you will be signing your ballot

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How to Get Around How to Get Around Voting ProblemsVoting Problems

Problem: The entrance to the polling is place not accessible or safe for voters who use wheelchairs or walkers.

Strategy:Strategy: Ask about other entrances into the building and call your states Protection and Advocacy organization (P&A) if there is not an accessible entrance.

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Problem: There is not an accessible voting booth at the poll.

Strategy:Strategy: Tell them how they could support you to be able to vote. HAVA says that every polling place should have an accessible voting booth. Check ahead with your Board of Elections to find out if your polling place has an accessible voting booths.

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Problem: The way your state votes does not give you privacy

Strategy: Strategy: Ask the poll worker if they could help you to vote

Remember:Remember: HAVAHAVA gives gives you the rightyou the right to to vote privatelyvote privately

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Problem: You know you can ask for an absentee ballot before election day, fill it out and send it in but you really don’t want to.

Strategy:Strategy: Remember it is important to show your community that people with disabilities do vote. So work with your community organizations to increase in person voting.

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Problem: You ask for help to vote and the poll worker says they are too busy.

Strategy: Strategy: Tell the poll worker you will wait for them and move aside for others to go through, but do not move out of their sight, if your comfortable don’t move at all.

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Problem: The attitude of the poll worker is negative and you feel uncomfortable.

Strategy: Strategy: Do your best to tell them your needs. If that doesn’t help, ask another poll worker to help you or if you have someone with you, ask them to help.

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Problem: You don’t know how to get support to learn about voting.

Strategy: Strategy: Call your statewide Election Officials, League of Women Voters, P&A, Self-Advocacy Group, and Center for Independent Living, and others.

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Problem: You know that you will need help at the polling place.

Strategy:Strategy: Ask for poll workers from each party if you are alone.You can ask a family member or friend you trust and respect to keep your vote private.

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Problem: The poll worker does not understand your speech.

Strategy: Strategy: Use a communication device or you can ask a family member or friend you trust and respect to translate for you. Tell them you are capable of voting and know how to do it and if needed you can tell them it is your right to vote.

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Problem: Your guardian doesn’t want you to you vote.

Strategy: Strategy: Find out if your guardian has full or limited guardianship. Talk your guardian about why voting is important to you and that you really want to vote. Some advocates do vote against their guardians wishes. You have to decide what is right for you. Don’t give up voting gives you power! Don’t give up voting gives you power!

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Problem: You need alternative format (large print or Braille)

Strategy:Strategy: Call your P&A or talk with your self advocacy group about Help America Vote Act (HAVA) the law that is all about accommodations.

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Problem: Someone says they will give you a ride to the polling place if you will vote for the person or issue they want.

Strategy:Strategy: Ask someone else to take you, or your political party might have rides if you plan ahead. If this is the only ride you can get. Let them drive you, ask them to wait outside, and vote for the person or issue you want. If they ask you can say yeah I voted. Get home safe with no fuss.

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Problem: Your support person says they want to go in the voting booth with you but you don’t want them to.

Strategy:Strategy: Say, “I want to try to handle it myself.”

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Problem: The poll worker asks where your guardian is.

Strategy:Strategy: Tell them you do not need a guardian to vote. Tell them you know about the issues and the candidates and HAVA says I have the right to vote.

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Problem: The poll worker says you can’t vote.

Strategy: Strategy: Ask the poll worker to explain why you can’t vote. An example might be you moved and forgot to update your voter registration card, your name changes or any other information.

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Problem: If the poll worker says you still can’t vote after showing you the proof.

Strategy: Strategy: Ask the poll worker for a provisional ballot, and ask the poll worker how the provisional ballot will be counted.

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Ways to Get Involved Ways to Get Involved & &

Building a Voting Building a Voting CommunityCommunity

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Ways to Get Involved Ways to Get Involved in Votingin Voting

Be a poll worker – Contact your election board and ask to attend a poll worker training.

Before the next election learn how to use the voting machines.

Educate others about voting: your family, community social clubs like: YW and YMCA, Lions, Kiwanis, and, service agencies, advocacy groups, and your friends.

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Work with the candidates on their campaigns and political platforms (stand on issues).

Help with a petition

pass out registration cards.

Be an advocate for others who need help voting or learning how to vote.

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Work on proposals to increase accessibility.

Attend the primary caucus which means a meeting where a candidate gets support and is given more information on the issues. A candidate who is running for office like when a self advocates run for President or Treasurer. The candidate talks about the issues and how they would solve problems this is their political platform.

What are other ways to get involved in the What are other ways to get involved in the voting processvoting process??

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Building a Voting CommunityBuilding a Voting Community

Hold trainings at your election’s office.

Invite legislators to do parts of your training.

Get involved in a task force on voting.

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Go to community meetings about voting.

Send e-mail and paper information to your mailing list to find out who is interested in voting

Work with community groups to educate people about voting

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Building a Voting CommunityBuilding a Voting Community

Training PlanTraining Plan Who are the team members? Who are you going to present to? Where will the training be held? Where will the resources come from to

support the training? Who will advertise the training (put up

fliers, send mailings, link to websites)?

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Best Practices For Partnering

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Best Practices For PartneringBest Practices For Partnering

“In order to work together to improve the lives of people with disabilities, professional organizations and self- advocacy groups must have relationships that are based on understanding, respect and trust.”

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What is the name of your group?

What is the groups mission and vision?

What is the group responsible for?

What are some of the other things that the group is involved in?

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Get To Know Each OtherGet To Know Each Other

What Are We Doing Now?What Are We Doing Now?

What Are We Doing Now?

What’s Working?

What’s Not Working?

What Are the Opportunities to Work Together Now?

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Why Working Why Working TogetherTogether is is Important?Important?

WORKING WITH P&As:WORKING WITH P&As:

We Speak in one voice We Provide legal back-up We Share Information We Strengthen our work with

legislators We Add credibility(value truth, and honor each

other) Collaboration (work on voting issues and

more)

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Why Working Together Is Why Working Together Is Important?Important?

WORKING WITH SELF ADVOCATES:WORKING WITH SELF ADVOCATES:We Speak in one voiceWe can speak up and do things the P&A can’t We share informationWe Strengthen our work with legislatorsWe Add credibility (value truth, and honor each other)Collaboration (work on voting issues and more)

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Grow Your Relationship

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Make a Formal Agreement

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Build Your Partnership Over Time

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Help Each Other Build

Bridges

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Don't Give Up

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InstructionsInstructionsChoose a note taker and

presenterChoose an activity to

partner onObstacles that would

make the partnership hard

SolutionsHow will you support each

other in hard times

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Small Group Discussion

How Do We Feel Now?How Do We Feel Now? What is Working Better

What’s Still Not Working

What Are the New Opportunities

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EvaluationEvaluation

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Documents

PROJECT PROJECT Presented by: Blurry Screen Slide 1