Megan O'Neil
World Institute on Disability

It is often said the right to vote is the most essential American freedoms. Wars continue to be fought all over the world for the right to cast a ballot, to ensure that every voice counts. Yet, many of us fail to exercise this most basic element of democracy. Here are just a few of the common reasons:

• Some feel that their vote no longer matters. Whether because of election scandals or simply the feeling that one single vote cannot make a difference, many in our country have grown apathetic.
• Even if they vote, politicians are controlled by special interests whose deep pockets are more persuasive than our single vote.
• There are no good choices. Candidates, regardless of party affiliation, are all the same and rather than cast a negative vote against the lesser of candidates- many choose to abstain.
• For people with disabilities, many polling places and voting machines/ballots are inaccessible- disenfranchising a good portion of 20% of the population. According to a National Organization on Disability/ Harris Interactive® survey, one-fifth of eligible voters with disabilities who wanted to vote were unable to do so for a variety of reasonsⁱ.

It is easy to understand the low turnout at elections, given the variety of excuses. It is far easier to complain about the state of American democracy, than to do something about it. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) has been diligently working on access issues. They were instrumental in ensuring that the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) became law in 2002, which included language to assure access to voters with disabilities. In the end, all the other excuses are up to us to change. What democracy boils down to is that everyone has a voice and unless we exercise that voice, we will be at the mercy of those that do.

The November mid-term elections are just around the corner. While not hyped as much as a presidential election year, the decisions we make by the votes we cast hold the power to change the direction of this country, just the same. Many important issues affect our decisions on which candidates we choose. Every time we watch television, read a newspaper or magazine, or listen to the news on the radio, we hear stories about the conflicts in the Middle East, terrorism, immigration, abortion, and the role of religion in our society. Yet, what about the issues that affect the daily lives of people living in poverty? Do we know what candidates think about Social Security or health care reform? About Welfare? About low-income housing or food stamps programs? Has there been any discussion of our judiciary and protection of the most important civil rights legislation for people with disabilities- the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?

This is not another piece of propaganda designed to persuade voters to blindly follow our recommendations. In fact, there will be no recommendations on any one candidate or issue. Rather, the point of this article is to encourage readers not only to vote, but also to seek out information beyond the flood of commercials and appeals of single-issue politics. This is not about discounting the opinions that people hold on important values or partisan concerns. This is an appeal to delve deeper into the subjects that affect our daily lives as individuals with disabilities and those that assist people's attempts to rise out of poverty. It is not an easy task.

This is a heavy responsibility- this act of voting. Not only are we expected to take time out of our busy schedules to cast the vote, we have to become educated on candidates platforms to know who to vote for. The difference between today and Thomas Jefferson's republic is the onslaught of media propaganda. In Jefferson's day, there were no television commercials, talk-radio, or internet blogs, newspapers were hard to come by (although Jefferson was no big fan of newspapers either- once saying that the only good thing they contained were advertisements). Yet, despite the difficulty, it is one of our most important responsibilities as an American.

For those of you that are content with the current state of this country, you are off the hook. If you agree with the policies and direction that leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have taken us in the last few years, you need not read further. However, for those of us that are dissatisfied, we must take the time to make our frustrations heard. The issues being discussed in most elections across the country are leaving out what affects our daily existence. It was thought that Hurricane Katrina might change the debate, that once again poverty might play a role. Largely, that has not occurred. Over the next month before elections take place, we all need to ask "What about us?"

If commercials and stump speeches are not addressing the challenges of the growing number of people living in poverty in this country, what do we do? Here are a few areas of concern:

• Minimum Wage Increase: The minimum wage has not changed since 1996. Earlier this summer, the Senate voted 52-46 to defeat a hike in the minimum wage forcing workers to survive on $10,712 ($5.15 per hour). How did your current Senator vote on the Increasing Minimum Wage Amendment or the Minimum Wage Adjustment Amendment, both proposed in 2006? See the Economic Policy Institute's issue guide for more facts and figures on the minimum wage http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/issueguides_minwage
• Social Security Reform: Touted as one of the top issued to again be addressed after the November election. Where does your candidate of choice stand on private accounts and Medicaid/Medicare reform? To learn more about Social Security and purposed changes, see AARP's Policy & Research overview http://www.aarp.org/research/socialsecurity/overview.html
• Budget Debates: We are repeatedly told that it is time for the country to make sacrifices, given our economic circumstances. Millions of dollars are being cut from poverty reduction and disability programs, while tax cuts were awarded to the wealthiest individuals and large corporations. Where does your candidate stand on tax cuts vs. domestic spending? How did your current representative vote on the Tax Reconciliation Bill of 2006? See the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities for more information on effects of tax cuts on our budget deficit and domestic programs http://www.cbpp.org/

These are merely three issues that are actively being debated in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. With an overwhelming amount of information, one way to help determine your vote is to know how your current elected official voted on the issues. Project Vote Smart has created a tool that lists the voting records and issue positions of currently elected officials and many candidates- on both the state and national level. There are also biographical information and campaign finances that give voters greater insight into candidates. There are also brief explanations of bills voted on throughout your elected official's career. http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm

One of the major differences between Thomas Jefferson's democracy and the one we have today is the amount of information available. It was understandable for those in the 1700's to not be informed about their candidates, this is no longer true. It is easy for us to fall into the trap of believing that our single vote does not matter. However, the only real way we can ensure that our voice is not heard is to not cast a vote at all. When we go to the polls this fall, we should remember the excellent advice of one of the disability community's pioneers, Justin Dart: "Vote as though your life depends upon it - because it does."

*Sincerest thanks to Bill Zavarello for his political insight and wit.

i"Barriers Restrict Voting by People with Disabilities" National Organization on Disability/Harris Interactive ® October 14, 2004 http://www.nod.org/.