Much is riding on
this year's elections. ADA enforcement,
IDEA reauthorization, MiCASSA deliberations,
judicial nominations, funding
for independent living centers,
continuity of Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) benefits, access to
Medicare and Medicaid - these are just
a few of the issues that will be shaped by
the November elections.
Democrats control the U.S. Senate and
Republicans control the U.S. House of
Representatives by tiny majorities.
Whatever party you affiliate with or
none at all, both political parties have
a lot to gain or lose, and so
do you. Remember Justin Dart's words: "Get
into politics as if your life depends
upon it, because it does."
Your vote makes a
difference! Don't fall captive to the
lower voter turnout rates of non-presidential-year
elections. (From one perspective, you can wield an even
greater influence in off-year elections because
fewer people vote. Take
advantage of it!) It's not just the
U.S. Congress that matters. Elections for governor,
state legislatures, and many
other state and local offices are at
stake.
Of course, you can't
vote if you're not registered to vote.
Most states require that registration information
must be received or postmarked
20 to 30 days prior to an election.
For the November 5 election that means
early to mid-October.
The website below
provides access to a national
registration form developed by the Federal Election
Commission. (Click on National Mail Voter Registration
Form for Public Use.) Although there are a few
exceptions, the vast majority
of states will permit you simply to print
out this form and mail it in. The form
includes instructions for each
state about registration deadlines and
mailing addresses.
In Michigan, you can
find the form at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/voterreg-app_16084_7.pdf
To view your ballot
and election calendar, map your polling location and
find out how to use the voting
equipment, visit:
http://www.sospublius.org
If you have
difficulty accessing the pdf-file form, contact
the Federal Election Commission at (800) 424-9530
or, in Washington, (202)
694-1100; TTY (202) 219-3336.
For more information
about voter registration and election
reform, visit AAPD's Disability Vote Project at
www.aapd-dc.org.
