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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Election Day is Less Than One Week Away! Are You Ready to Vote?

Election Day is less than one week away, and millions of Americans have already cast their ballots through early voting or voting by mail. This year, it is more important than ever to know your rights and have a plan. We have listed some resources and events to help you prepare for Election Day.

Plan Your Vote 2020 

NCIL, along with other members of the National Coalition on Accessible Voting, created “Plan Your Vote 2020,” a vote planning guide that walks you through every step of the voting process.

Brink Election Guide 

Brink Election Guide is a free app that helps you find out where to vote, who and what you’re voting for, and everything you need to make Election Day a breeze. This nonpartisan, accessible app is available on iOS and Android, and it was built by people with disabilities to provide all of the necessary information a voter needs to know. Brink provides completely non-partisan information designed to inform our users on the candidates running for office and other initiatives on the ballot. The app also provides a list of resources to help voters navigate any potential issues they face when voting.

SignVote Series: Election 2020 

SignVote is dedicated to informing and engaging deaf communities throughout the 2020 election by developing and sharing resources in ASL. They recently launched the second episode of the SignVote Series: Election 2020, where you can learn everything you need to know about making your voting plan. View SignVote’s “Your Plan to Vote”.

Election Protection and Protection and Advocacy Hotlines 

If you have questions about voting, or experience any issues while voting, there are several hotlines available to help answer all of our questions.

  • Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-86708683) 
  • Spanish: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682)
  • Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US (1-844-925-5287)
  • Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, or Vietnamese: 1-888-274-8683
  • ASL Hotline (National Association of the Deaf): 301-818-VOTE (301-818-8683) 
  • Each state Protection and Advocacy agency runs a voting hotline to specifically address the questions and barriers that people with disabilities face while voting. Protection and Advocacy voting hotlines by state 

SABE GoVoter Experience Survey 

Self Advocates Becoming Empowered is collecting the personal experiences of voters with disabilities for the 2020 Election in the 2020 GoVoter Experience Survey. Learning about these experiences helps election officials and others improve their voting services and helps disability organizations know where to focus their voter education. The survey is available in English and Spanish in an easy to follow format. It is also available in hardcopy for voters who do not have access to a computer. Please contact Juliana Huereña ([email protected]) or Essie Pederson ([email protected]) with any questions. 

Fannie Lou Hamer Voting Event 

“What does Freedom look like for Black Disabled people in 2020 and beyond? How are Black Disabled people actively dreaming up alternative visions of freedom, community and political power? What does it mean to center #BlackDisabilityFreedom and #BlackDisabilityDreams in our work? Let’s talk about it!” 

Join the five organizers from the inaugural cohort of American Association of People with Disabilities’ Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program on October 30th at 5:30pm ET as they discuss the complex intersections of Blackness and Disability with our community, as well as how we might use voting as one part of an integrated civic engagement strategy towards Black liberation.