Automark Demo at ADA Celebration!

Boston’s Election Department will have an Automark Machine set up.  They will be training attendees who may not have used one before or would like a refresher on how the Automark works.

ADA Celebration in Boston

Tuesday, July 23:  12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m.
Boston City Hall Plaza, One City Hall Square, Boston

From Non Profit Vote – This report is especially interesting in that it tries to indicate what policies could be driving higher voter participation.  At 17th in the list with 54.6% participation as compared to the highest at 64.2% (Minnesota), Massachusetts has room to improve!

The report is packed with useful information, charts, and graphs that can help you spread the word about your own voter advocacy work or help highlight how your state needs to do more to ensure every eligible citizen has access to the polls. “

Download the report:   Voter Turnout in 2019

865,015 overall.  We do not have disability-specific numbers, but, still, this is a number we can all be proud of.

See the whole report at https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/about/2018-report/ .

We have provided links to both past and future debates.

• October 3:  Attorney General Debate between incumbent Maura Healey and challenger Jay McMahon. The debate was hosted by WGBH News and moderated by Jim Braude and Margery Eagan. View on pbs.org.
• Tuesday, October 9 .: Gubernatorial Debate is between incumbent Charlie Baker and opponent Jay Gonzalez.   Jonathan Keller moderated.  View on C-Span.
• Wednesday, October 17 from 7 p.m. – 8 on WGBH (Channel 2) and WGBY Springfield:  Gubernatorial Debate is between incumbent Charlie Baker and opponent Jay Gonzalez.   View on C-Span.
• Friday, October 19 from 8 p.m. – 9 on WBZ Channel 38.   Senatorial Debate where Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Warren faces Republican Geoff Diehl.  Watch on YouTube.com.
• Sunday, October 21 at 7 p.m. sponsored by WBGY Springfield:  At this Senatorial Debate,  incumbent Elizabeth Warren faced Geoff Diehl.   View at C-Span.
• Monday, October 22 from 7 – 7:30 p.m. WGBH Channel 2:  Secretary of State Bill Galvin (D) will debate his opponent, Anthony Amore (R), on the Jim Braude Show.  View on wgbh.org.
• Tuesday, October 24 – Attorney General Debate between incumbent Maura Healey and challenger Jay McMahon.  Listen on facebook.com/radioboston.
• Tuesday, October 30 – Senatorial Debate,  incumbent Elizabeth Warren against Geoff Diehl.  Broadcast live on WCVB Channel 5 at 7 p.m. and streamed on WCVB.com, BostonGlobe.com and Boston.com.
• Thursday, November 1 – : Gubernatorial Debate between incumbent Charlie Baker and opponent Jay Gonzalez.  Broadcast live on WCVB Channel 5 at 7 p.m.

Majority of disabled voters in U.S. faced obstacles in casting ballots in ’16

Don’t miss the debate for Secretary of State on Monday, October 22.  Incumbent Democrat Bill Galvin will debate Republican opponent Anthony Amore on the Jim Braude show on WGBH TV.

Note: October 22 is the beginning of early voting.  We recommend you watch the debate first before you vote!

When: TODAY!
Tuesday October 2, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.
Where:
Lebowitz Meeting Hall
Morse Institute Library
14 E Central Street
Natick, MA 01760

Representatives from the Secretary of State’s office, the Disability Law Center, REV UP Massachusetts and MetroWest Center for Independent Living will be there to answer your questions.  This Voter Registration Forum is in conjunction with National Disability Awareness Month.

Accessible AutoMark Voting Machines will be set up for voters to try out.

The Natick Town Clerk will help you register to vote, even if you are from another town.

Learn your civil rights, register to vote and make your voting plan.

Representative Linsky, Senator Ross and Senator Spilka plan to attend.

From the Digital Journal and Newswire.com.  October 1, 2018

This article confirms what REV UP stands for – the disability community needs to vote and to have a louder voice!  “Candidates for office ignore the disability community at their peril.”

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3959496

“It’s the month before the midterm elections and one of the nation’s leading disability organizations has a wake-up call for candidates. “Fully three-quarters of likely voters either have a disability themselves or have a family member or a close friend with disabilities,” said former U.S. Representative and Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett. Bartlett is the chairman of RespectAbility, a Washington-based nonpartisan nonprofit that fights stigmas and advances opportunities so people with disabilities can participate in all aspects of community.

“Our survey shows that 74 percent of likely voters are touched by disabilities,” said Bartlett, who was a primary author of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. “Our nation was founded on the principle that anyone who works hard should be able to get ahead in life. These folks deserve an equal opportunity to earn an income and achieve independence just like anyone else. Candidates for office ignore the disability community at their peril.”

Free Webinars from REV UP / AAPD (American Association of People with Disabilities)

Health Action Webinar: What’s at Stake in the 2018 Elections
September 20, 2018 | 1pm ET

The 2018 elections will be critical in determining whether health care options are available for families and adults for years to come. Join Families USA experts for a discussion on what to expect on the state and national level. With Medicaid expansion ballot initiatives, governors’ races, and elections with party control of state legislatures hanging in the balance, the future of health care has never been such a critical issue in the voting booth at the state level. What’s more, the Congressional midterms will have a critical influence on the future of the Affordable Care Act and the structure of the Medicaid program as we know it.

REV UP Webinar: Access Barriers to Voter Education Materials

September 21, 2018 | 2pm ET

Join this collaborative webinar hosted by the DOnetwork and the REV UP Campaign to learn more about barriers to accessing election information, including information on candidates and the issues. The webinar will explore how political campaigns, hosts of candidate forums, and election officials can make their materials and information more accessible to people with disabilities. Webinar presenters include the National Council on Independent Living and the Center for Disability Empowerment.

National Voter Registration Day

September 25, 2018

National Voter Registration Day is a national holiday celebrating our democracy. It was first observed in 2012 and has been growing in popularity every year since. Held on the fourth Tuesday of September, National Voter Registration Day will be observed on Tuesday, September 25th this year. The holiday has been endorsed by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). It is further supported by the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED).

REV UP Webinar: Breaking Barriers to Voting

October 18, 2018 | 1pm ET

Join this collaborative webinar hosted by the DOnetwork and the REV UP Campaign to learn more about barriers to voting. The webinar will explore polling place accessibility, poll worker training, how to navigate voting barriers, vote by mail accessibility, and knowing your rights as a disabled voter. Participants will also have a chance to ask questions. Webinar presenters include Disability Rights DC, Protection & Advocacy for People with Disabilities (South Carolina), Disability Rights Oregon, and Disability Rights Iowa.