Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi
my name is Greg Demule, I'm a registered voter
I am a voter in New Hampshire I vote in New Hampshire!
I vote in New Hampshire. I vote in New Hampshire.
Hi, I'm Cindy Robertson. I am a Senior Staff Attorney at the Disabilities Rights Center
and I'm a registered voter. Did you know that people with disabilities vote less frequently
than people without disabilities? If you don't vote, you don't get a voice in electing the
people who are going to be making decisions about YOUR life: the laws that protect you,
the benefits and services you receive, the decisions about issues important to people
with disabilities.
Justin Dart was a famous disability rights advocate. He said, Vote as if your life
depended on it. Because it does!
There used to be many barriers to voting for people with disabilities, and there still
are some, but voting has gotten much more accessible. Try it! It's easier than you
think, it's important, and it's your right as a citizen.
We've broken it down to three steps for you: 1. Register
2. Learn about the candidates 3. Go to the polls on election day and vote!
Let's start with registering.
Norman: Hello ma'am I'm Norman Smith I'm here to register to vote.
City Clerk: OK, so we just need a photo ID, your driver's license or a passport, and
it looks like you have a driver's license right here. OK, and is your current address
at 55 School Street? Norman: Yes
Clerk: OK, so that's on your driver's license. So let me give you a voter registration form.
You're gonna complete this whole form. Norman: OK
Clerk: So we'll have you complete this form and where it says city ward, you are in ward
5. Norman: Ward 5.
Clerk: Yup, and that polling location is at the Green Street Community Center right behind
us, right behind here at City Hall. So you just have to complete this whole voter registration
form and then I will sign it after you sign it. So there you go.
Norm and other woman: We're New Hampshire voters! We're voters! We're voters! Yeah
yeah yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cindy: Who can register? US citizens who are 18 or older by the time of the election, and
who are residents of New Hampshire, are eligible to vote in New Hampshire. You can register
at your town hall at least 10 days before the election. You can also register by mail
or at the polls on the day of the election, but it's better to take care of it ahead
of time. You will need to bring proof of three things
with you: 1. Your age; 2. That you are a citizen; 3. That you live in the town you are registering
in. Proof of your age could be: a driver's license;
a non-driver ID; a birth certificate; a passport Proof of your citizenship could be such things
as: a birth certificate; a passport; a naturalization certificate
And Proof of your residence could be: a driver's license; a non-driver ID; a vehicle registration
form; a NH domicile affidavit If you are homeless or don't have a permanent
address you can still vote if you meet the other qualifications. You will need to provide
an affidavit of where you are staying. You will be asked if you want to register
as a democrat, a republican, or independent. It's your choice.
If you have a guardian, you probably still have the right to vote. Check your guardianship
papers. If the right to vote is not limited, go vote! If it IS limited, call the Disabilities
Rights Center for more information.
Amy: Hi, I'm Amy Messer, Legal Director of the Disabilities Rights Center. You should
be aware that the only way a person with a disability who is otherwise legally eligible
to vote, can have that right taken away is by court order through a guardianship proceeding.
What is important here is that you do not lose your right to vote simply because you
may be under guardianship. You can only lose that right by an express finding of the court
that you are incapable of exercising that right. This would also need to be in a guardianship
letter issued by the court. Both guardians and those under guardianship should recognize
that individuals with disabilities have the right to vote, and only if a court removes
that right should a person not be allowed to vote.
Guardians are under a duty to safeguard to the greatest extent possible ALL the civil
rights of an individual under guardianship.
2. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
WHO to vote for is very important. You are electing the people who will represent you
in your town, your state, and your country.
Greg: I found out about the election through my parents and through a little bit of investigation
of my own because turning 18 this was the first election I was going to vote in so I
was not only very excited, I felt like it was my duty to do so.
James: Usually if, for myself, I will look online at their websites as kind of a first
step, and then to get kind of a back and forth a lot of times if there's a debate I will
watch the debate. I guess I should probably go to the debate but I at least watch it if
they're on television.
Sarah: Well, I watch the news with my father.
Marie (signs)
Pat: I listen to the TV ads and I look at the flyers when they come to the house.
Marie (signs)
There are a lot of ways you can learn about the candidates running for office.
First, think about what issues are important to you. What do YOU stand for? What are YOUR
interests?
What do voters with disabilities care about?
James: Well the issue I care about is, I think there needs to be a balance in the state if
we're talking about state government, and I guess we're talking about federal government
too of making sure that in my mind fair taxation and to make sure there's sufficient funds
to make sure that the things that government should be doing, get done, in a fair and equitable
manner.
Marie (signs)
Pat: Help with Medicaid, make Medicare better for us seniors.
Sarah: I care about the issues about education, jobs, benefits, and volunteering.
Pat: Service is very important, even for social security.
James: Well, voting ís important to me because we're a representative democracy and the
first step in having your voice heard is to vote and vote for people that share your views
and are going to run the government in the way you think is important to have it run.
So whatever your political view is, what you need to do, the first step is to get out there
and vote. And I think especially for people with disabilities itís important to go to
the polling places and vote at the polling places because we need to be seen which we
historically haven't been, at the polling places, voting, having our views heard.
Greg: Health care is very important to me because being disabled, you know, I want to
make sure that I have the best coverage that I can get. I want a candidate that matches
up with me and my needs and the needs of the American people.
Sarah: My vote makes a difference to everybody in the world.
Cindy: Now you want to find out where the candidates stand on the issues that are important
to you. Will they vote for what you believe in?
You can follow the news on TV, radio, internet, or in the newspaper to find out what the candidates
are saying. If a candidate already holds an elective office,
you can find out how they have voted on issues important to you.
You can talk to organizations that support your causes and find out their reviews of
the candidates on your issues. You can go to candidates forums and listen
and ask questions. Are you a part of a group of self advocates?
A Peer Support Center? A support group? Why not invite some candidates to come speak to
your group and discuss their positions?
We're particularly lucky here in New Hampshire because it's such a small state and being
first in the primary everyone is anxious to come to New Hampshire and get our vote. So
we have a good opportunity to meet candidates up close, actually have conversations with
them, and even have them over to tea or coffee at our homes, unlike most of the people in
the country, so take advantage of that.
3. VOTE
Sarah: I helped elect the president of the United States.
(Obama inauguration clip) Obama: I Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly
swear Justice: That I will execute the office of
president to the United States faithfully Obama: That I will execute
Justice: faithfully the office of president of the United States
Obama: the office of the president of the United States faithfully
Justice: and will to the best of my ability Obama: and will to the best of my ability
Justice: preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.
Obama: preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States.
On election day, you can go to the polls and cast your ballot.
Make sure you know where the polling place is. If you don't know, you can call your
town hall and ask or ask your neighbors, you probably vote in the same place.
Julia: Rebecca, is, uh, have you voted before? Rebecca: No, this is my very first time.
Julia: This is your first time. Wow, how do you feel about it?
Rebecca: Nervous!
Cindy: But what if you don't drive? How are you going to get there?
There are many people eager to get you to the polls to vote, especially if they think
you are going to vote for their candidate. You can call your political party's office
and ask for a ride. Some social service programs will ensure you have a ride if you need one.
Ask your neighbor!
Roberta: My name is Roberta Gallant. I am a New Hampshire registered voter. I encourage
everybody else in our communities to go register to vote too. Please, everybody, go out to
the city hall or the town hall to register to vote. Thank you very much, this is extremely
important.
Cindy: Once you get to the polls, you need to check in. Your name will be checked against
a list of registered voters. If you haven't registered yet, you can still register at
the polls. Just make sure you bring your documents that prove your age, citizenship, and where
you live. You will get your ballot. Take it to a voting
booth where you can choose your candidates privately and independently. At least one
of the booths will be accessible, with room for a wheelchair and a low table.
You have the right to go into the voting booth by yourself to vote privately and independently.
But you may also bring someone in to help you if you wish. It's your choice.
You will have the option to use the accessible phone-fax system to vote, designed to be accessible
for those with vision or a reading impairment
Clerk: OK, this will walk you through it, press any key when you're ready, and when
you're done it will print your ballot, just bring it out to me and we'll finish the process
from there.
James: OK, thank youÖÖ..press pound twice to printÖfax it to me momentarilyÖhang up
nowÖok, goodbye. Ö..Looks good. How ya doin? Clerk: Good. How are you?
James: pretty good, I think I'm all set Clerk: OK
James: I guess I'm supposed to fold that so no one can see it. I think I'm all set.
Clerk: OK, great. James: Thanks a lot.
Clerk: Right. You have a nice day. James: You too.
Clerk: Thank you James: See you in two years.
Clerk: (chuckles) .
If you cannot get to the polls, you may also vote by absentee ballot.
Frank: Can I bring somebody into the booth with me?
Cindy: Yes, you can bring someone into the booth with you, to help you fill out your
ballot. You and your assistant may be asked to take an oath that your assistant will mark
the ballot as you direct and keep your vote confidential.
Frank: If I have a guardian, can I still vote? Cindy: You can probably still vote. Voting
is a right that is not necessarily limited by guardianship. If for some reason it is
limited or someone challenges your right to vote, call the Disabilities Rights Center
at 1-800-834-1721
Frank: What if I make a mistake on my ballot? Cindy: Bring the ballot back to the moderator
and ask for a new one.
Frank: Can anyone tell me who I have to vote for?
Cindy: Who to vote for is your decision. Many people may try to tell you who they think
you should vote for, but the choice is up to you.
Frank: What can I do if I have a problem at the polls?
Cindy: Tell the moderator and see if they can troubleshoot the problem. Call the Disabilities
Rights Center and let us know.
2 people: We vote in New Hampshire!!!
So these are the steps to voting: 1. Register
2. Learn about the candidates 3. Go to the polls on election day and vote!
If you want more information about your voting rights or if you have a problem with voting,
call the Disabilities Rights Center at 800-834-1721. See you at the polls!
Rebecca: I think anybody with disabilities that wants to vote, should vote, and not let fear of
discrimination get in the way. Julia: Sounds like good advice to me.