DES MOINES – July 15-19, 2019, is National Disability Voter Registration Week, a national effort to make the disability vote more influential. The REV UP Campaign coordinates this week to make a concerted effort to get people with disabilities registered to vote, educated about elections and prepared to cast a ballot.
The REV UP Campaign, launched by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in 2016, is a nonpartisan initiative that coordinates with national, state and local disability organizations to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues. The Campaign focuses on voter registration, education, access and engagement. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!
Iowans with Disabilities in Action encourages individuals to get involved with the REV UP Campaign by hosting a disability voter registration drive in their own communities. Iowans with Disabilities in Action along with the REV UP Campaign has made available information and materials to help people successfully participate in this effort.
Individuals with disabilities accounted for over 35 million eligible voters in 2016, according to Rutgers University. That figure jumps to over 62 million eligible voters when you count family members in the same household. The power of the disability vote has the potential to ensure that all candidates address issues that are important to people with disabilities. National Disability Voter Registration Week mobilizes and demonstrates the power of the disability vote!
Resources and information can be found at www.idaction.org. For more information on the REV UP Campaign and National Disability Voter Registration Week, visit www.aapd.com/NDVRW. The REV UP Campaign offers a host of information on registering to vote, ways to drive civic engagement and state-specific resources and events. For questions or comments, please use our contact form on the Iowans with Disabilities in Action website or call 866-432-2846.