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Why does it matter that people from the disability community vote?

Elected officials make decisions on things that are important to us. �

It shows elected officials that we care and are paying attention.�

It may change the way that an elected official votes on an issue. �

Local elections are as important as national.

If people with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities – that would be 2.35 million more votes!!

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Helping our youth become responsible citizens

Understanding Barriers
Registration
Photo ID
Guardianship
Understand Voting Rights
Join the DVC or Follow us on Facebook

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Major Barriers for Voters with Disabilities

Accessibility concerns
Lack of Photo ID (high percentage of non-drivers)
Lack of Transportation
Failure to provide accommodations
Limited access to internet and technology (digital divide)
Lack of training for poll workers
Confusion about voting rights, including for people under guardianship
Stigma and discrimination

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Voter Registration

Online at myvote.wi.gov/ Requires Photo ID.
Mail. Up to 20 days before Election Day. Mail completed form to your municipal clerk.
In person, at the municipal clerk’s office. Must provide proof of residence.
At your polling place on Election Day. Must provide proof of residence and photo ID.

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What are Wisconsin’s Photo ID requirements for voting?

Most Wisconsin voters must show an acceptable photo ID when voting at the polls on Election Day or by absentee ballot. There are some exceptions for absentee voters.
An acceptable Photo ID for voting does NOT have to include a current address. You only prove your address when registering.
More information on the Photo ID law is available at http://bringit.wi.gov

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Wisconsin’s Photo ID requirements for voting

DMV Voter ID Hotline

844-588-1069

Bring it to the Ballot:

bringit.wi.gov

Most Wisconsin voters must show an acceptable photo ID when voting at the polls on Election Day or by absentee ballot.

Acceptable Photo ID for voting does NOT have to include a current address. You only prove your address when registering.

More information on the Photo ID law is available at http://bringit.wi.gov

Is there anyone who does not need to provide a photo ID?

Indefinitely confined voters, if a voter has a hard time getting to the polls on Election Day due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability they can request a ballot be sent to them. Indefinitely confined voters do not need to show a Photo ID when voting by absentee ballot. If they vote in person, they must present a Photo ID.
Voters in special care facilities can provide a witness signature on their absentee ballot certificate envelope in substitute for showing Photo ID; if they vote in-person, they must present a Photo ID.
Confidential electors are always exempt from Photo ID requirements. Confidential electors have applied for this status with their municipal clerk, and have presented a court order, a letter from law enforcement, a letter from the staff of a domestic abuse shelter, or the staff of an agency assisting victims of domestic abuse.
Active Military and Permanent Overseas voters are not required to provide a Photo ID when they vote by absentee ballot, but if they vote in-person, they must present Photo ID.

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Can I still vote if I have a guardian?

In Wisconsin, a person under guardianship retains the right to vote unless the court expressly removes it.

Parents/guardians, teachers do not decide if a person can vote or not.

To find out if a person has the right to vote:

“Determination and Order on Petition for Guardianship Due to Incompetency” (GN-3170)
Contact Municipal Clerk

See resources on voting and guardianship at www.disabilityvote.org.

Wendy

In Wisconsin, a person under guardianship retains the right to vote unless the court expressly removes it.

If an individual is under guardianship and unsure of their right to

vote, the Court’s decision regarding the right to vote is recorded on a court form called “A Determination and Order on Petition for Guardianship Due to Incompetency.” (GN-3170).

The language in the court order will not specifically say that the person has retained the right to vote, however, a box will be checked if the right has been removed.
If someone is under guardianship and not sure if they have the right to vote, they should:

Ask their guardian to look at the “Determination and Order form” mentioned above to see if their right to vote was removed. A copy of this form may be requested from Probate Court in their county (costs about $2.00 to get a copy). OR
Contact the Municipal Clerk for their community. The Clerk can check the list they receive from the state of individuals adjudicated incompetent and ineligible to vote.
A person who has a guardian and has lost the right to vote may petition the court to restore their right to vote (Wis. Stat 54.64(2)(a)).
Resources about voting and guardianship are on the Disability Vote Coalition website at disabilityvote.org/ or contact the DRW Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683/ 844-DIS-VOTE.

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Requesting an Absentee Ballot��

Online myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee
Mail
Email
In-person

Indefinitely confined voter- ��

Will always need an absentee ballot due to age, physical illness, infirmity, or disability, you can make a single absentee ballot request to your local municipal clerk to be permitted to vote an absentee ballot automatically at each election

If a voter has a hard time getting to the polls on Election Day due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability they can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them for every election. This is called an “Indefinitely Confined” voter.

According to WEC, “Designation of indefinitely confined status is for each voter to make based upon their current circumstance. It does not require permanent or total inability to travel outside of the residence. Statutes do not establish the option to require proof or documentation from indefinitely confined voters.”

Indefinitely confined voters do not need to provide a Photo ID.

How to apply to be an “indefinitely confined” voter:

� Choose the “indefinitely confined” option in section 6 of the Absentee Ballot Application, certifying that you are indefinitely confined, or send a request in writing to your municipal clerk.

An “indefinitely confined” voter will have their ballot mailed to them for each election until they don’t return a ballot. If this occurs, the municipal clerk will contact the voter to see if they want to remain on the “indefinitely confined” voter list.

Most voters who live in an adult family home, group home or nursing home certify as indefinitely confined voter.

When the Legislature passed the Photo ID Law in 2011, it exempted permanent absentee voters from having to provide a copy of their photo ID to receive a ballot. These voters are allowed a substitution under state law where their witness verifies their identity and certifies to that by signing the return envelope. The voter registration process is an additional safeguard as proof of residency is required.

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www.myvote.wi.gov

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What is Early Voting/In-person absentee voting?

Voters can vote early at their local clerk’s office in advance of each election. This is also called “in-person absentee voting.”
If you need to register to vote, you may do so at this time.
Each municipality sets their own dates and hours for in-person absentee voting.
Contact your clerk for absentee voting hours and locations.
Early voting locations are also listed on the My Vote Wisconsin website.

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What is curbside voting?

Required by law for any voter who cannot enter the polling place due to a disability.
The WEC believes that individuals who are immunocompromised or have symptoms of COVID-19 are eligible to curbside vote.
Curbside voting should also be available during in-person absentee voting at the clerk’s office or alternate site.
Contact your Municipal Clerk in advance of Election Day to determine the process to access curbside voting (e.g. honk your horn, ring a doorbell, call a phone number).

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Key Rights as a voter with a disability

to vote privately and independently.

Right

to access the polling place.

Right

to use the accessible voting machine at your polling place.

Right

to ask for accommodations, such as a chair to sit in rather than standing in line, signature guide, magnifying glass, assistance stating your name and address.

Right

to assistance marking your ballot (just not your employer or your union representative)

Right

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to Curbside voting if you cannot go into your polling place as the result of a disability

Right

to bring a “cheat sheet” into the polling place

Right

to request another ballot if you make a mistake

Right

to file a complaint if you feel your rights have been violated

Right

NO ONE SHOULD TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE!

Right

Key Rights as a voter with a disability

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Accessible Voting Machine

Each polling place is required to have at least one accessible voting system.
The accessible voting machine must provide the opportunity for voters to vote privately and independently.
Anyone can use the accessible voting system.
Elections officials must make sure it’s functioning properly in each election, and that election officials are trained to operate them.

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How to be an informed voter?

Review your elected officials and your ballot in advance of the election.

Myvote.wi.gov

Learn about the candidates

Vote411.org, Ballotpedia.org, wisconsinvote.org.

Follow the Disability Vote Coalition

E-newsletter, resources, website, Facebook page �

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The Disability Vote

Approximately 23% of the electorate in the November 2020 election were individuals with some type of disability, according to AAPD.
This is a diverse group of voters: people who are blind and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, with intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health disabilities, complex medical needs, and chronic health conditions.
Many older adults have disabilities acquired through aging, although they may not formally identify as a person with a disability.
People with disabilities are underrepresented at the polls. The Rutgers University Fact Sheet on Disability and Voter Turnout in the 2018 Elections notes a 10.4% gap in Wisconsin voter turnout between citizens with and without disabilities.

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Voting Bills Introduced February 2021

Part of a national trend to limit voting rights following the 2020 elections and the pandemic.
The bills would:

Make it harder to vote for many voters with a disability and older adults.
Make it more difficult for friends and neighbors to assist you with returning an absentee ballot.
Restrict workers in nursing homes and group homes from offering residents assistance with voting.
Threaten volunteers, clerks, and others with prosecution for violating the new barriers.

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What voting resources can help me?

WI Voter Information

www.myvote.wi.gov

Photo IDs

www.bringit.wi.gov
Wisconsin DMV Voter ID hotline: 844-588-1069
Your municipal clerk https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/MyMunicipalClerk

Disability Vote Coalition:

Website www.disabilityvote.org
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wisconsindisabilityvote/
Email: info@disabilityvote.org

Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline

844-DIS-VOTE (347-8683) or email info@disabilityvote.org