Disability Voting Rights Week

Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW), September 9-13, 2024, is a nonpartisan movement hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities’ REV UP campaign. DVRW is about advocating for accessible futures, celebrating community, and building power.

The disability community makes up an important voting bloc. Disabled voters are a part of every community. Yet, systemic barriers prevent many people with disabilities from accessing their right to vote.

DVRW was created by grassroots disabled activists. DVRW is a cross-disability, cross-movement week of action. We invite all community members and allies to join us.

DVRW includes:

• voter registration and education events
• candidate forums on disability issues
• digital organizing
• engaging with elected officials
• creative actions.

People with disabilities are a large part of the population, and exist in every political party and demographic. The disability vote has the power to create a more inclusive and accessible democracy. Only 17.7 million of the over 38 million eligible voters with disabilities participated in the 2020 elections. If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as nondisabled voters, there would be about 2.0 million more voters.

In 2022, we saw an increase in turnout of voters with disabilities, but the turnout rate was still lower than voters without disabilities. This turnout gap is in large part due to systemic barriers that keep people with disabilities from accessing their right to vote. Through DVRW, we can work to close the turnout gap and make a difference in our state, local, tribal, and national elections.

When most people think about voting, they think about voting for the president of the United States. Elections for president happen every four years and they are important! But, there are elections every year and we believe that ALL elections are important, which is why we recognize Disability Voting Rights Week every year. For example, an election for a local school board can affect how much money schools in your area get for things like art, music, sports, even books. Elections for state representatives can affect how certain programs like Medicaid and Medicare work. Even though Medicaid and Medicare have federal funding, state officials have power.

This year’s DVRW will also highlight three key issue areas that impact our community: accessible housing and home and community based services;, economic justice; and democracy.

Partners can get access to graphics, messaging, and resources by clicking “join the movement.” 

To receive swag: partners must sign up by July 29, 2024