The Disability Vote Coalition is pleased to release a new document, Voting Rights Are Human Rights: In Our Own Voices. This document shares the voices of voters with disabilities and their allies who are concerned about voting bills recently approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature. The bills will create new barriers and impact the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites with a disability, older adults and other voters.
We release this document on the 31st Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which is one of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments in advancing disability rights and look towards a future where the goals of the ADA are fully realized and people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote.
Voting rights are the cornerstone of our democracy. Adding more administrative hurdles and penalties for voters or people trying to help voters is not fair or wise. For a truly representative government, the goal should be to make it easy for everyone to participate in elections. In that spirit, we ask our state and national policy makers to make a pledge to work with the disability community to make our elections fully accessible and inclusive of people of all abilities.
Link to document: Voting Rights Are Human Rights: In Our Own Voices
