NYS Independent Living Council, Inc.

Nearly ten percent of the voters in this year’s election were people with disabilities according to post-election polls conducted by the Siena Research Institute and Zogby International. The polls were commissioned by the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC).

“The results confirm our Siena pre-election findings, and indicate that people with disabilities are a significant portion of the actual voter turnout,” stated Brad Williams, executive director of NYSILC.

Michael Godino, chair of NYSILC’s Voter Education Committee commented, “This group has the potential to grow as access is ensured at polling sites and voting machines under federal and state law.” He added,” The disability vote can be a decisive factor, particularly in close races.”

The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) conducted a voter participation study for the 2000 Presidential election. In New York State, it cited that only 1.3 of 3.3 million voting-aged citizens with disabilities exercised their fundamental right to vote in the 2000 election.

“Long standing barriers to voting sites, inaccessible election machines and other obstacles have discouraged individuals with disabilities from voting,” said Christine Zachmeyer, Chair of NYSILC. Zachmeyer has a long-term perspective on the issue, having been party to litigation to enforce voting access provisions of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA). “We are looking forward to the state’s full compliance with these laws and the increased opportunity it provides New Yorkers with disabilities.”

Results from both polls appear to support that voting access changes, while incomplete, are beginning to have a positive impact. When asked if they encountered physical or attitudinal barriers during the voting process, approximately 90 percent stated that they did not encounter barriers. In addition, 91 percent of the people with disabilities said they were able to vote privately and independently.

In races for statewide offices, the responses of voters with disabilities generally paralleled the overall electorate. However, support for incoming New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer was even higher among people with disabilities. In the Siena poll, 82 percent of voters with disabilities have a “favorable” opinion of Spitzer.

When asked if they voted based on a candidate’s position on a disability-related issue, only 13% said “yes.” However, almost one in four respondents (Siena 27%, Zogby 24%) said that a non-disabled family member or friend voted for a candidate due to their input. “This finding adds leverage to the disability voting bloc,” stated Williams.

The Siena Research Institute conducted the non-partisan, post-election telephone poll of 620 voters from November 8, 2006 to November 14, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points. Zogby International conducted interviews of 1,367 voters, both interactively and by telephone. The poll ran from November 7, 2006 through November 11, 2006. The margin of error is +/- 2.7 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Slight weights were added to party, age, race, religion, and gender to more accurately reflect the population.

NYSILC intends to issue a full report on the voting trend findings at the start of 2007.

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NYSILC’s vision is to realize a world where people with disabilities achieve equal access and opportunity in all aspects of society.