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Did you know…?

• 30% of eligible Americans are not registered to vote

• In

w/

disabilities was 3.3% lower than that of people w/out disabilities

2008,

voter

registration

rate

of

people

• Voter turnout rate of people w/ disabilities was 7.2% lower than people w/out disabilities

• Only 46.1% of people w/ cognitive impairments voted compared with 64.5% of people w/out a disability – a gap of 18.4%, or a 28.5% lower rate of turnout

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Why The Arc?

Breadth—700+ chapters

Depth—49 states, DC

History—60+ years

Mission—people w/ I/DD,

families, across lifespan

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We’ve Got the Power!

4 Components

1.	Voter Registration
2.	Voter Education
3.	Candidate Education
4.	Voter Mobilization

Voter

Registration

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Why don’t people vote?

• Lack of knowledge about choices

• Unsure about the voting process

• Forgot to register

• Medical reasons

• Away from the area

• My vote won’t count

• Don’t “do” politics

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What do

Voters Want?

• Reasons why to vote from a peer perspective

• Help with or training about how to vote

• Information about what issues on the ballot

• Information about choosing a party

• Information on which offices up for election

are all about

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Why Register

People to Vote

1. Elected officials know who votes

2. Clout for The Arc

3. Power for the disability community

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Voter Registration—

Getting Ready

• Make a Plan

• Get Buy-In

• Publicize Activities

• Educate Voters

• Identify Partners

The Mechanics—

Registering to Vote

• In-person

• At board of elections

• Fill out registration (can be with assistance)

• By mail

• Fill out registration & mail to local board of elections

• Online

•

http://thearc.www.capwiz.com/election/register_vote/

• Know deadlines for registration

• Check with local board of elections

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• Eligibility

Issues to Consider

• Age—18 years old, or will be 18 on election day

• People with I/DD—guardianship issues

• Current registration status

• Already registered? Check at ww.nonprofitvote.org

• New voter registration?

• Changes in district

• Moved since last election?

• Plans for in-person vs. absentee/early voting

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Registering People

to Vote

• Focus on the month before the Deadline

• Voters who register nearer the election more likely to vote

• Plan to have most active voter registration

in few weeks before your state’s deadline

• Use time to promote voter registration in chapter communications and signage in your office/program areas

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Voter

Education

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What do voters

need to know?

• Knowledge of the voting process

• Confidence about casting a ballot

• Urgency & importance

• Issues that will impact them

• Where candidates stand on issues

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Voting Process

1. Registration

2. Timing

3.	Polling Place Locations
4.	How to get there
5.	How to cast ballot

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Confidence in voting

• Accessibility

• Communications w/ Poll Workers

• Assistance w/ voting machines

• Practice on different types?

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Urgency &

Importance

2000 PRESIDENTIAL POPULAR VOTE SUMMARY FOR ALL CANDIDATES

(Updated 12/2001)

Candidate (Party Label)

Popular Vote

% of Popular Vote

Al Gore (Democrat)	50,999,897	48.38%
George W. Bush (Republican)	50,456,002	47.87%
Ralph Nader (Green)	2,882,955	2.74%

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Urgency &

Importance

IMPORTANT TO REPEAT…

• 30% of eligible Americans are not registered to vote

• In 2008, voter registration rate of people w/ disabilities was 3.3% lower than that of people w/out disabilities

• Voter turnout rate of people w/ disabilities was 7.2% lower than people w/out disabilities

• Only 46.1% of people w/ cognitive impairments voted

compared with 64.5% of people w/out a disability – a gap of 18.4%, or a 28.5% lower rate of turnout

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Issues Impacting Constituents

• Federal Level—

Medicaid

Vocational Training & Education

Family Supports

• State Level—

Medicaid Waiting Lists Education Funding

• Local Level—

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School District Funding Local Transit Recreation Options

Candidate Stances

on Issues

• While we don’t endorse candidates, we want to elect those who will support our

critical issues

• Don’t know where candidates stand on

issues important to our constituency?

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ASK THEM!

Candidate

Education

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Candidates Need

to Know…

• What is important about our constituency?

• What issues are important to our voters?

• What are candidates going to be asked to do

if they are elected?

• Why our constituency matters now, and after the election

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Connecting with Candidates

1.	Sponsor a Candidate Forum
2.	Invite a Candidate to an Event
3.	Do Candidate Survey/Questionnaire
4.	Share Policy Ideas (“Don’t Cut Our Lifeline!”)
5.	Attend Candidate Events
6.	Encourage Advocates to be Poll Workers

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Candidate Forums

• Co-sponsor a candidate forum with other nonprofits

• Advertise a forum sponsored by others

• Hold a debate watching party

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Candidate Surveys

1.	Cover broad range of issues
2.	Clear and unbiased questions
3.	Distribute to every candidate in the race
4.	Give reasonable time period to respond
5.	If no response, indicate “Did Not Respond”. Do not leave them out of printed responses, or fill in their issue positions from external sources.
6.	Promote their answers to all constituents and partners.

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Voter

Mobilization

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Get Out the Vote--

What is it?

Efforts on or just before

Election Day

to help people get to the polls

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Get Out the Vote

(GOTV)!

If people don’t show up and vote, none of this matters!

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Get Out the Vote

• Make it personal

• Give voters the help they need

• Turn up the (nonpartisan) volume

• What’s the message?

“WE’VE GOT THE POWER!

VOTE IN 2012!”

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GOTV--

Early Voting

• Early voting is gaining popularity – 1 in 3

voters vote early

• Let chapter members know about opportunity to vote early – how and where to do it

• Check your state’s rules on early or absentee voting

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• Promote

GOTV--

You Can Help!

• Why voting is important

• Do it electronically, in print, via signage

• Logistics

• Help people register

• Assist in getting people to the polls

• Process

• Educate voters about how to register

• Educate about the issues

• Partner

• Work with other community groups

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GOTV--

Sample Activities

• Hold a mock election

• Teach voting vocabulary words

• Hold a debate watching or voting results party

• Hold a Trick or Vote event

• Create simple handouts with information on:

• what races are on the ballot

• how to vote

• polling place locations

• ballot initiatives

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Suggested Timeline

of Activities

Month 1

• articles in newsletters, promotion via social media & website

• build relationships with local community groups doing voter promotion

Month 2

• register people to vote via local events or at program locations

• hold debate viewing parties for presidential debates

• register people to vote on Sept. 25 (Nat’l Voter Registration Day)

Month 3

• October, 2012—Disability Employment Month Month 4

• November 6, 2012—GOTV!

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Dates to Remember

• September 25, 2012—

National Voter Registration Day

• November 6, 2012—

Election Day

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Additional

Resources

• The Arc— www.thearc.org (stay tuned!)

• Nonprofit Vote –

www.nonprofitvote.org

• Project VOTE— www.sabeusa.or/govoter

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More Info

Dee Dee Eberle

Director, Chapter Organizing & Advocacy

eberle@thearc.org

202-534-3726

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Continue the discussion through our FORUMS!

You will receive an email shortly with a link to our discussion board. The PowerPoint and recording will also be provided in this email. Email Phuong (pnguyen@autismnow.org ) if you experience any issues.

Website:

www.autismnow.org

Information & Referral Call Center:

1-855-828-8476

Next Webinar:

Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 2:00-3:00 PM, EDT Sex and Relationships: How Do I Figure This Out?