You booked Special Transit Service days in advance and arrived at your local precinct to vote in the election. You feel good; you're putting in the effort to vote and you'll be voting for a candidate you believe in-what could feel better? And the cherry on top: that little round 'I Voted' sticker on your way out the door. The glistening school entryway still smells of sharpened pencils, the same as it did a few months back when you showed up and voted in local elections. After half an hour waiting in line, you are directed to the registration table where, just as you did in the previous election, you pull out your paycheck stub to verify your identity. "Sorry, sir, we need a photo ID." But, you don't have a photo ID, you don't drive. We've come a long way with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), but voting is still confusing. On top of that, the majority of fraudulent voter claims-which propelled numerous bills in the last legislative session- don't check out. "Most allegations of election fraud … relate to mail ballots" (Texas House Committee on Elections, 2006 Interim Report).
Commotion surrounding "Voter ID" is already stirring, months before the 2009 legislative session. Voter ID laws would place excessive restrictions on voters, particularly infringing on the civil liberties of people with disabilities. Stricter ID requirements in federal elections vs. local ones will perpetuate confusion at the polls, while documents proving citizenship are costly to obtain. Arranging for photo identification or a birth certificate can be a much deeper problem for people with disabilities; some don't have drivers' licenses and purchasing identification documents and finding the transportation to obtain these documents can be challenging. "What's an inconvenience to some people … is an impossibility to others," CTD's Bryson Smith said. "Just one more obstacle or one more hardship can disenfranchise them."
CTD is proud to be the lead disability organization fighting for your voting rights, but we need your help! Talk to your legislators now and educate them on how "Voter ID" laws will affect you and your loved ones. CTD partner AARP also notes: "For a number of older Americans … minorities and the disabled, requiring a government-issued photo ID erects a new barrier to a fundamental democratic right." CTD continues advocating for the rights of voters with disabilities so you may leave with your voting booth with an 'I Voted' sticker on your lapel and a smile on your face.
CTD, partnering with the Secretary of State’s Elections Division, is conducting VOTEXAS outreach, providing brochures on voting for people with disabilities and assuring Texans that if they are registered to vote in Texas, they can vote privately and independently.
Available in English and Spanish, the brochures detail polling place expectations, special help available at polling locations, curbside voting, mail and early voting, and further information regarding services for voters with disabilities. Additionally, there is a list of rights for registered voters in Texas.
CTD will send you brochures for free! If you are interested in receiving brochures for voters with disabilities, please contact:
Brittany Williams
bwilliams@cotwd.org
Lone Star Park, the horse racing facility in Grand Prairie, has settled an Americans with Disabilities Act class action lawsuit. If you will take 5-10 minutes of your time to make this claim and donate the funds, CTD will be able to continue to fight for your rights! This is your opportunity to let commercial properties know that they must build their places of business so that they are accessible to all!
If you use a wheelchair, scooter, walker, canes, or crutches and are disabled under the ADA and if you visited Lone Star Park before February 13, 2009 or thought about visiting the park, but heard it was not accessible, you are a member of the class and are eligible to receive a $100 payment.
To make a claim as an adult, select this link, and if the claim involves a minor, click this link. Send it in with some evidence of your disability to:
Class Action Administration
PO Box 225689
Dallas TX 75222-5689
Your donation will help fund CTD’s disability advocacy efforts! CTD will send you a charitable donation letter for tax purposes.
To find out more about the case, get additional claim forms, or find out how to object to the settlement in this suit, call 972-263-7223 or go to this link.
Each year, CTD awards the $1,000 unrestricted Kenny Murgia scholarship to a deserving high school senior with a disability who has made an impact on their community. To learn more, please select this link.
Individuals who receive Social Security and/or certain Veterans’ benefits may qualify to receive $300 or more under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. These individuals are not otherwise required to file a federal tax return, but must file a return to receive the economic stimulus payment. Click on this link and follow the steps and guidance in the Guide for Benefit Recipients to determine eligibility.
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Become a Member of the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities
Your Membership Counts with CTD!
Click on www.cotwd.org for more information.