Advocacy Team
Dear Access Living friends and allies,
First, a quick heads up: Access Living staff are busily compiling resources for our community for support during the Coronavirus crisis. You can find those resources here. If you would like to suggest a resource, please email Emma Olson at eolson@accessliving.org.
Today in Illinois, Florida, and Arizona, it’s primary election day! Normally, the state of Ohio would also hold its primary election today, but officials declared a public health emergency and Ohio’s primary election will be delayed. Check out this link for a schedule of state primaries (bear in mind that some may be delayed).
Because of the Coronavirus crisis, many people have already voted early or by mail. If this was you, kudos! Thank you for helping to make sure that the disability vote counts. It is so important that disability voters weigh in on choosing elected officials who will exercise the leadership that disability voters need.
If you live in Illinois, you have a mail-in ballot, and you haven’t mailed it: DO IT TODAY. It is really important that your mail-in ballot be postmarked today.
If you live in Illinois and you haven’t voted yet, you can still vote in person (and register in person also). If you live in Chicago, your voter info is at this link. If you live in Illinois but outside Chicago, please see this link.
If you live in Illinois, you’re a disability voter, and you plan to vote today, be sure to report any disability related issues you may have in voting. See below for the info for Equip for Equality‘s Voters with Disabilities Helpline. You may contact them by phone, TTY, text or email.
Voters with Disabilities Helpline
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Illinois Primary Election, Equip for Equality will have advocates available by telephone to answer questions about any voting problem you may experience.
*Please note that this text phone number is ONLY available on March 17, 2020
- Voice Telephone: 1.800.537.2632
- TTY: 1.800.610.2779
- Text: (only for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have speech impairments) 312-826-0049*
- E-mail: voting@Equipforequality.org
- Available from 6 am to 7 pm
More resources about voting… Check out the Rev UP campaign website at this link. Looking for information about voting in Easy Read or Plain Language? Check out this resource from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Do you have an assistant and are you planning to vote? Check out this video from Rooted in Rights. And, here is info for ASL voters from the National Association of the Deaf.
Please share widely especially with voters in Illinois, Arizona and Florida today!