Thursday, November 15, 2007: Voting Rights
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT
Edward J. Heaton Phone: (201) 996-9100
E-Mail: eheaton.ber@hipcil.org
Heightened Independence and Progress (hip), Centers for Independent Living, has several initiatives that assist persons with disabilities in Bergen and Hudson counties with the voting process.
On Election Day (November 6, 2007), hip’s staff and consumers will be re-evaluating several polling places that have had ongoing problems with accessibility. This is a continuation of hip’s commitment to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
In previous years, hip has evaluated polling sites in Bergen County for accessibility, registered voters, and has held a candidates’ forum so that elected officials and candidates could meet and hear from voters about issues important to them. According to Nancy Hodgins, hip’s Director of Advocacy, “The disability voting bloc can exert a powerful influence in an election if all those who are eligible register and cast their votes.”
Of the 35 million people with disabilities in America who are eligible to vote, only 15 million choose to do so. This figure could be greatly improved if services that allow them to vote were better publicized.
For the 2007 election, every district in New Jersey must have at least one machine with special equipment that assists those with visual impairments and/or persons who have trouble using the touch screen on voting machines. This equipment provides a headset and a hand-held remote control that allows the voter to vote without having to reach the screen. The headset allows those with visual impairments to hear the names of the candidates for each office and their party affiliations. It also reads all questions on the ballot as written.
The State Office of the Public Advocate has made voting rights for persons with disabilities one of its priorities. A letter explaining these rights is being widely circulated to the public and also to local election officials. A copy of this letter can be found at the link below:
http://www.state.nj.us/publicadvocate/public/pdf/Letter to Voters with Disabilities 2007.pdf
hip also has copies of this letter available at its Bergen County office (131 Main Street, Hackensack).
Anyone experiencing difficulty voting on Election Day in Bergen County can contact Theresa Johnston at hip’s Bergen County office at 201-996-9100 ext. 10. In Hudson County the contact person is Maria Smith at 201-533-4407. hip will forward any complaints it receives to the County Board of Elections in Bergen and Hudson Counties for resolution.
Nancy Hodgins offers this piece of advice to the disability community: “Legislators want to know what issues are important to us. It is vital that our community makes its voice heard on Election Day.”
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