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Building Freedom Through Community
Policy Change and the Election Process
In America, the election process is the way that the basic infrastructure of policy gets changed. The earlier activists become involved in the election process, the greater the chance that policy can be changed along lines that meet our needs more adequately. Most of the time, when people think of the election process, they think of voting. That's one important part of it. The bigger picture is that we will benefit as a community to the extent that each of us is willing to become more involved in all aspects of this critical process. Involvement can happen at many levels. We invite you to explore any of them.
Voting and Voter Registration:
Voting is actually the last step in the electoral process. By the time you vote, whether in a primary or the final election, the candidates have been determined, the platforms have been laid out, and the candidates have already identified the key supporters that they plan to stay in touch with after the election. Obviously, it's very important to our cause to make sure that disability activists vote. We have to make sure that our voices are heard at election time.
What can we do to increase voter participation among disability activists? Consider the barriers that keep people from voting and work to eliminate them! Some people don't vote because they simply don't know how to register or vote. They'd benefit from a model someone who votes who's willing to talk about it and show others how to register, how to find the polling place, how to operate the voting machines. This could start with a voter registration project, a visit to the local City or County Clerk's office to practice on voting machines, or maybe inviting the Clerk to come to one of your meetings. Car pools can be set up to help people to get there. Another option could be to pick up some sample absentee ballots and show people how easy it is to complete them.
This process can be completely informal, and doesn't have to involve a lot of effort on your part. If the people you support can learn to support others, a network effect can spread voting by members of our community the same way a rumor spreads.
While important, voting is just one part of the election process.
Candidate Forum:
Organizing a candidate forum is not only a great way to get to know candidates; it's also an excellent way to educate candidates about the issues of the disability community. The beauty of such forums is that you can hold them anywhere during the election season. Just contact the offices of all candidates in the field, set a date, find an accessible place to host the forum, find someone to emcee the event, arrange for refreshments, set an agenda, and arrange for free publicity by announcements to the local media, flyers, and word of mouth. Then hold the forum. A reminder call to the news reporters at TV stations, radio stations, and newspapers could get you more media coverage for your event.
Contribute to Campaigns:
Contributing to a campaign doesn't necessarily mean giving money. If you like a candidate, offer help to distribute materials, work in the office, or make phone calls. This will build important relationships that will prove useful if your candidate wins.
Join a political party:
Caucus work within a political party can help those candidates learn about our issues. When you call the political party of your choice, ask if they have a disability caucus, or if they'd be interested in letting you form one! This is a good way to begin to build disability issues into a party's platform.
Serve in an appointed capacity:
Call your local unit of government and ask who their ADA Coordinator is, then call that person and ask if you can meet with them to offer technical assistance. Too often, local units of government comply with a mandate to appoint an ADA Coordinator by simply assigning those duties to a staff member even if the staff member has no knowledge of applicable laws!
There are many, many other appointed positions available where local units of government are eager to involve ordinary citizens in a review process. Commissions could address safety, voting, building and zoning and many other issues that would benefit from hearing the perspective of people with disabilities. Often a City or County Clerk will be eager to tell you how easy it is to become involved.
Run for Office:
Once you learn how the system operates, consider running for office. Once we have disability activists in public office, we won't have to spend so much time educating legislators!
Become more involved in the election process--you might like it! You'll certainly make a difference, because when policymakers see people with disabilities at more stages of the process, it will help them remember that we are citizens, too citizens with issues that they would do well to remember when it's time to make decisions!
Table of Contents:
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA),
- Action Day 2003,
- Using the Internet as an Election Campaign Tool,
- It's Easy to Get Politically Active,
- Project GREEN.
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
After all the problems in Florida during the last presidential election, Congress passed a law to improve access to voting for all Americans. The law, referred to as HAVA for Help America Vote Act, has important implications for voters with disabilities. Michigan is eligible to receive approximately $45 million this fiscal year with an estimated $33 million in additional grant funds coming over the next two fiscal years. The federal funding will allow Michigan to replace outdated voting equipment. It will also help to improve access for voters with disabilities and those who are living outside the country, including military personnel stationed overseas.
Link to the full article "HAVA".
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Action Day 2003
The Lansing connection section of the Action Cycle is over for another year, and what a day it was! On May 8th, about 300 people gathered on the Capitol lawn to share, learn, and meet with others. There were activists from every corner of the state, and decision makers including legislators, department staff and legislative staff. Activists shared their successes and struggles, policymakers were eager to learn about the day-to-day struggles of people with disabilities, and people from at least one trade organization learned about our issues. It was an outstanding opportunity for activists to teach decision makers how their work effects us.
Link to the full article "Action Day 2003".
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Using the Internet as an Election Campaign Tool
Elizabeth Bauer is a member of the Michigan State Board of Education, elected in November of 2002. Always an advocate for persons with disabilities, she worked on the implementation of the Plymouth deinstitutionalization consent decree, and was Executive Director of Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service for 20 years. This interview was, appropriately enough, completed online.
Link to the full article "Internet as Election Tool"
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It's Easy to Get Politically Active
Submitted by: Norma Bauer
When I started out, I didn't really have a plan laid out firmly in my mind. I just went to City Council meetings so I could see for myself how things work. One evening, the City Manager told me he was looking for an ordinary citizen to serve on the Traffic Safety Commission. All I had to do was read over a report they sent me before the meeting, check out the situations, and go to a meeting once a month. Citizens would come and tell us what they wanted. Then the Public Safety Director would tell us about the applicable laws, ordinances, and research on the subject. We'd discuss it, then vote on it. No problem!
Link to the full article "It's Easy"
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The Grass Roots Education & Empowerment Network (GREEN)
Are you working with others in your community to increase opportunities and access for people with disabilities?
Would it help to talk with new people who have been successful in making changes?
Would additional funding for your efforts help?
Applications for support of short-term projects that increase access to Assistive Technology information, devices and services are now available. For more information, contact MDRC or visit www.copower.org/At/green.htm .
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