Voters With Disabilities
Emerge from Electoral Hibernation
Ten percent of the likely
voters polled self-identified as people with disabilities.
In a June
2000 speech in Albany, Jim Dickson of the American Association of People with
Disabilities (AAPD) declared, "People with disabilities are the sleeping giants
of American politics." A recent pre-election poll establishes a baseline to
help monitor the potential fulfillment of Dickson's prediction.
The Siena Research Institute
conducted a non-partisan, pre-election telephone poll of 500 likely voters from
October 30,2006 to November 1, 2006. The poll asked a disability identifier
question to help assess the voting trends of people with disabilities. Ten
percent (10%) of those polled answered "yes" to the disability identifier
question, "Do you have a medical condition or disability that impacts your
mobility, hearing, sight, cognitive, or mental abilities?"
Williams is hopeful that
the recent and continued changes to improve polling place and voting machine
access will help to remedy the situation. "We are at a watershed moment in this
state and country," he remarked. These changes, long overdue, will effectively
reduce barriers so a greater number of New Yorkers with disabilities can vote
privately and independently for the first time in their adult lives."
When asked about the
long-term impact of the election reform and voting trends, Williams added,
"What politician would dare to deny full voting access to such a significant
portion of our total population, including emergency and site personnel who
acquired disabilities post 9/11, soldiers wounded serving their country in
Afghanistan and Iraq, and scores of "baby boomers" who will eventually
experience a disability as they age over the next 10 to 15 years?" The Siena
Research Institute will conduct a follow up post-election poll to help verify
and expand upon the findings. |
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Do You Vote!?
By:
Clifton Perez, M.S.W. Systems Advocate
Independent Living Center of the
Hudson Valley Inc. (ILCHV) cperez@ilchv.org (518) 274-0701 Ext. 111
On
September 12, 2006 I voted - on my own - for the first time in my life! Voting,
the most powerful tool in a democracy is, at best, taken for granted and at
worst, is viewed as ineffectual. It is due to this misguided perception, that
too many of our citizens forgo their most powerful catalyst for change, in this
great Republic of ours.
As a person who has been severely visually impaired
from birth, I have not - until now, (due to the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) )-
had the pleasure or privilege of voting privately and independently. Prior to
this primary, I had to bring someone I could trust into the voting booth so
they could read the information necessary for me to exercise my obligation as a
concerned citizen. Fortunately for me, I have been blessed with a wonderful,
caring and absolutely understanding person - my wife - who has been there for
me for the past twenty-six years. Although she has reliably assisted me every
time I have had to vote, it is difficult for me to truly express to you the joy
of finally voting on my own.
Continued on page 3 |
NYS Independent Living Council, Inc.