>From the web page
http://www.nod.org/vote2000/voterguide.html

National Organization on Disability
Agency Guide for Disabled Voter Registration

For more information, please contact the National Organization
on Disability's VOTE! 2000 Campaign at 910 16th St. NW, Ste.
600, Washington DC, 20006; phone (202) 293-5960 or email
vote@nod.org

Download a Word version of this document

The fate of programs serving persons with disabilities will be
decided at the polls!

If the primary activity of your organization is to provide
services to persons with disabilities, and if you receive state
funding to provide these services, you must be designated as a
voter registration agency.

Human service and health organizations can help empower their
clients by systematically offering voter registration during the
application, intake, or orientation process, and by registering
all of their employees to vote.

14 million voting-age Americans with disabilities are not
registered to vote. While the National Voter Registration Act
(NVRA) makes voter registration available at motor vehicle and
public assistance agencies, many persons with disabilities are
not being reached. For this reason, Section 7a of the NVRA
requires that "each state shall designate as voter registration
agencies... all offices in the state that provide state-funded
programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with
disabilities." This includes Medicaid, Paratransit providers,
personal assistance providers, home health care providers, sign
language interpreters, psychiatric and employment counselors,
vocational rehabilitation agencies and special education
departments. (Note: if your organization is not so mandated, you
may still go ahead and register people to vote.)

Many will vote. Studies show that 70% of the people whom
volunteer canvassers register to vote actually go to the polls
and vote in presidential elections.

FOLLOW THESE FOUR EASY STEPS

1. Appoint one permanent staff person to oversee and coordinate
voter registration activities. This person should design the
best method for routinely offering voter registration in the
intake process, at the reception desk, or during orientation at
your agency. This person should ensure that the agency has a
regular supply of state mail-in voter registration forms, which
can be obtained from the local elections office. Also, this
person should register staff to vote.

2. Agency intake forms and procedures should be amended to
include the question, "IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE 
WHERE
YOU NOW LIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER TO VOTE 
HERE TODAY?"

3. Clients should always be offered help in completing the voter
registration form. Check to be sure the application is properly
filled out, and that your agency offers to mail it to the
elections office. Obtain answers to commonly asked questions
such as, "How will I know if I'm registered?" "Where do I vote?"
"How do I get an absentee ballot?" "Do I need an I.D. card to
vote?" "Can I register to vote at age 17 if I will be 18 on
Election Day?" "If I register now, am I permanently registered?"
"Do I have to choose a political party when I register?" "If I
vote in a party's primary election, do I have to vote for that
party in the general election?"

4. Record the names and phone numbers of people who register to
vote at your agency. This step is for get-out-the-vote efforts.
You can also keep track of how many people register to document
your success to your staff, board, funders, local coalitions,
national affiliates, or the press.

ALL VOTER REGISTRATION SERVICES MUST BE NON-
PARTISAN

"Non-partisan" means that the activity or program shall not be
influenced by, affiliated with, or supportive of the interests
or policies of any political party or candidate. Support for
candidates of two parties in an election ("bipartisanship") is
not a non-partisan activity. You need to put up a sign which
reads:

"Our voter registration services are available without regard
for the voter's political preference. Information and other
assistance regarding registering or voting, including
transportation and other services offered, shall not be withheld
or refused on the basis of support for or opposition to a
particular candidate or particular political party."

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Can my organization work in a coalition with other groups
that conduct voter registration, education, and get-out-the-vote
programs?

A. Yes, as long as the effort is non-partisan. Participating
organizations and individuals cannot make any statements in
support of or in opposition to any particular candidate or
party, or conduct any other activity designed to reflect a
preference or recommendation for any political party or
candidate.

Q. Can vehicles owned by non-profit organizations be used to
transport voters to the polls? Can drivers employed by the
organization transport voters to the polls?

A. Yes to both questions. You can even affix nonpartisan
messages to vehicles encouraging voters to go to the polls.
However, make certain that the vehicles and the drivers do not
display any partisan literature, buttons, posters, flyers,
bumper stickers or other political propaganda.

Q. Can a staff person registering voters in a 501(c)3 agency
wear a button or put a bumper sticker on his/her car that has
the name of a favored candidate?

A. No, not while registering the voters. This caution does not
apply to referenda; you may urge citizens to "support or stop
Proposition X."

Q. Can my agency place posters in conspicuous places?

A. Yes, as long as they do not refer to political parties or
candidates.

----------
End of Document