Election Day 2024: Disability Voting Resources

 

November 5, 2024 | by Amber Smock

Access Living friends and allies,

It’s Election Day!

The polls are opening right now in Illinois. Many of you may have already voted, but lots of people will still vote today. Each and every disability vote matters—that means you! We’ve put together some important nonpartisan info for voters with disabilities who are voting in person today. Reminder, for those who are voting by mail, you need to mail in your ballot TODAY.

Chicago Public School Board Election

Are you passionate about education and students with disabilities? For the first time ever, Chicago voters will get to vote for a candidate for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Board. Access Living sent all the candidates a questionnaire on issues that are important for students with disabilities. Check out the results of our school board candidates survey at this link. As a nonprofit, Access Living cannot endorse any candidate, so we shared all responses that were submitted to us.

For Chicagoans voting in person, you can check the location of your local Chicago precinct at this link. The link also has basic info about your rights as a voter.

Disability Voting Helpline

From 6:00 am to 7:00 pm, Equip for Equality will have advocates available by telephone, TTY, text, and email to answer questions about any voting problem voters with disabilities may have in Illinois. Here’s how to access the Disability Rights Voting Helpline:

Toll Free Main Line: 800-537-2632
TTY: 800-610-2279
Text: 312-967-8098 (only available TODAY, November 5)
E-mail: voting@equipforequality.org

For non-Chicago Illinois voters, you can check the location of your local polling place at this link.

Nationwide Voting Support

If you experience access problems while voting, call or text the 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) Election Protection Hotline if you have any trouble while voting. You may also use the online chat at 866OurVote.org. You will reach a trained, nonpartisan volunteer who will assist you. This hotline has partnered with a number of national disability organizations to monitor and respond to reports of voting accessibility concerns, such as AAPD, the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disability (NACDD), New Disabled South, and others.

AAPD has also recommended that if you experience any form of inaccessibility, failure to provide accommodations, or other discrimination at the polling place, consider submitting a report about your experience to the U.S. Department of Justice at this link: https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/

Rides to the polls – Boston, Chicago, NYC, Philidelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Portland, OR.

If you don’t have a ride to the polls, AAPD’s REV UP Voting Campaign is partnering with Microsoft and Lyft to provide free or discounted rides to the polls in the seven cities listed above. Here’s how it works: Use the code MSFTA11YVOTE for $15 off per ride, valid for two rides. This code can also be used to book standard rides if you do not need a WAV. We recommend reserving your ride in advance for both WAV and standard rides to avoid wait times and ensure you can get to the polls.

Instructions for booking WAV or standard ride:

  • On November 5, download and open the Lyft app. From the Main Menu, go to the “Rewards Tab.”
  • Click “Add Promo Code.”
  • Enter the code MSFTA11YVOTE. The $15 off reward will automatically apply to rides within the seven eligible cities on November 5, 2024.
  • If you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, open settings, then select “wheelchair access.” When you book your ride, you will see “Wheelchair” as a ride type.

Disability Voter Resources: Last but not least, the following resources may be helpful for voters with disabilities.

Please share this important voter info with your community today. Let’s get out the disability vote!