Your Vote Matters! Be Ready for the November 2020 Election

Your Vote Matters! Be Ready for the November 2020 Election




The general election is coming up on November 3, 2020, where elected officials and important matters are voted on. With 1 in 4 people between the ages of 18-64 living in the United States with a disability, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), your voice matters!

Your Vote Matters!
Be Ready for the November 2020 Election
The general election is coming up on November 3, 2020, where elected officials and important matters are voted on. With 1 in 4 people between the ages of 18-64 living in the United States with a disability, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), your voice matters!
Voting allows you the opportunity to voice your concerns, beliefs and how you want to be represented! It is critical to get involved, become aware of the issues and vote.
“If people with disabilities voted as the same rate as people without disabilities, there would be roughly 2.35 million more voters,” based on a report from RUTGERS School of Management and Labor.
There are many accessible voting options for individuals with disabilities, so we encourage you to make sure your voice is heard.
Register to vote, become informed about the issues, encourage your friends and family to register, know your rights as a voter, and vote. Spread voting facts and stories online. Make sure to use #CripTheVote #DisabilityVoting


Registering to Vote:
Upcoming Deadlines
ONLINE
Register to Vote
October 19, 2020
BY MAIL
Postmarked in the mail by:
October 19, 2020
IS THERE SAME DAY REGISTRATION?
Yes. Register in-person at your county elections office, polling location or vote center up by October 19. After that date, you can register to vote conditionally up to and including Election Day—but you will have to vote provisionally.

OPTION 1: Vote by mail
NO NEED TO REQUEST YOUR BALLOT
For this election, all active* registered voters will be sent a physical vote-by-mail ballot in the mail, starting the week of October 5. (*You can check whether your voter registration status is “active” here.)... Unless you want a remote accessible vote-by-mail ballot!
For this election, all registered voters can request and use a Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail (RAVBM) ballot to vote. Once downloaded, a RAVBM ballot can be marked using assistive technology, but must be printed and returned in the envelop provided by your county. Contact or visit your county’s website for details on how to access your RAVBM ballot.
RETURN YOUR VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT
Every vote-by-mail ballot will contain an envelope with pre-paid postage. After sealing and signing your envelope with your marked ballot inside, you can return your vote-by-mail or RAVBM ballot in the following way(s):
Drop it off in-person (at a ballot drop-box or polling place) by:
November 3, 2020
Mail it early so that it’s postmarked by:
November 3, 2020 (try to send it at least a week in advance!) and received by your election official in the mail by November 20, 2020.
OPTION 2: Vote in-person
EARLY VOTING STARTS AS SOON AS...
October 5, 2020
This can vary! While some counties will have limited locations open beginning Monday, October 5 (usually the county elections office), most counties won’t have early in-person voting until Saturday, October 31. Check your county elections website for details. You can also contact your county elections officials directly by phone or email.
VOTING ON ELECTION DAY – VOTE EARLY!
November 3, 2020
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM


How You Can Get Involved
Make sure you are registered to vote
To check voter status to see if you are registered to vote and if your registration up to date:
https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/
If you are not registered to vote, you can still register at:
https:\\registertovote.com
-or-
Contact your local county elections office for voter registration:
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/
For California online voter registration:
https://registertovote.ca.gov/
How to fill out a California Voter Registration Card (ASL)
Research and get informed about the issues
Issues such as:
Accessible and affordable housing, Employment, Special Education, Healthcare, etc. Each of these is affected by your vote.
Encourage your friends and family to register and vote
Rock the Vote suggests:
Pledge to vote and get three friends to pledge: https://www.rockthevote.org/get-involved/get-three-friends-to-vote/
Volunteer to encourage people to vote:
Rock the Vote volunteer: https://www.rockthevote.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-rock-the-vote/
Become a Voting Squad Captain through When We All Vote:
https://www.whenweallvote.org/votingsquad/


Your voice is important and your vote matters!


For more information on voting and self-advocacy publications/webinars online
- Webinar: Your Right to Vote - Voice Your Choice! Learn about the importance of voting, your voting rights and the voting process.
- Voters with Disabilities - Know the laws that protect voters with disabilities and information on how to register to vote, and vote.
- Your Right to Vote and Register to Vote when you are in a facility
- Your Right to Vote if You Cannot Vote in Person Due to a Medical Emergency
- Your Voting Rights Under Conservatorship (SB 589)
To learn more about DRC & Voting Rights visit: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/what-we-do/programs/legal-advocacy-unit-lau
If You Are You Having Difficulty Voting Because of a Disability, Call DRC’s Voting line at:
1-888-569-7955