Voter Empowerment Toolkit

Daniel Hood -- Why I Vote sign

Voter turnout surged among citizens with disabilities in 2022, as it did in 2018. In Minnesota, turnout increased from 45.7% in the 2018 general election, to 57.1% in 2022. Typically, we see less people vote in local election years like 2023 and mid-term elections like 2022. We need to maintain our momentum going into 2024!

15.8 million people nationwide with disabilities reported voting in the November 2022 elections. However, combined with a recent U.S. Election Assistance Commission study finding that 14% of voters with disabilities had some type of difficulty voting in 2020, this indicates a total of 2.2 million voters with disabilities experienced voting difficulties.

The Arc Minnesota wants everyone to know how important it is to vote. When you vote, you are choosing elected officials who will make decisions about issues that have an impact on your life. By voting, you have a chance to shape policies that will affect the entire community.

An important resource that contains essential information related to voting, is the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) State Voting Guide for Minnesota. It tells people how to register, methods for voting absentee, finding polling stations, looking at a sample ballot, and important links for additional assistance.

We believe in the self-advocacy movement motto, “nothing about us without us”, and that includes voting! We want you to feel empowered to vote, so we made this toolkit to make sure you are ready for the elections this year.

Scroll down to access information about voter registration, important election dates, how to vote early, how to vote on Election Day, and voting tools for self-advocates and The Arc Minnesota regional offices & nonprofits. Learn more about the voting process below or by visiting The Arc US Voting Resources.

 

Register to Vote RevUp MN Facebook Voting Rights Videos

Voter Registration

Register To Vote

Use this resource to register to vote online. Learn how to register on paper, on Election Day, and more. The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office provides this resource.

Register on Paper in a Different Language

Register to vote in different languages. Mail or drop off your application at your county election office.

Am I Registered to Vote?

Check your registration status.

Find Your County's Election Office

This link helps you locate where to mail or drop off your voter registration application.

Voter Registration FAQs

This resource answers frequently asked questions. Click the link for voter eligibility, registration deadlines, and how to update your registration.
Offf-white square graphic with large, all-caps blue text saying “Our vote is our power!” Below is the white, blue, and red logo for the National Disability Voter Registration Week. On the bottom are the REV UP logo on the left and an illustration of a white blond adult in a wheelchair and a young black girl with a braid, marching with signs that say vote.

Important Election Dates

Primary Election Day

  • August 13, 2024

First Day to Early Vote by Mail or In Person for the General Election

  • September 20, 2024

National Disability Voting Rights Week

  • September 9-13, 2024

Last Day to Register for Early Voting in the General Election

  • October 15, 2024

Last Day to Early Vote by Mail or In Person for the General Election

  • November 4, 2024

General Election Day

  • November 5, 2024

How To Vote

Vote Early Options

This resource gives information about your vote early options. Learn how to vote early by mail, vote early in person, vote from military or aboard, and vote by agent delivery.

Absentee Ballot Instructions

This link gives instructions about how to vote early by mail.

Request an Absentee Ballot Online

This application is the online way to request an absentee ballot.

Request an Absentee Ballot on Paper via Email, Mail, or Fax

Fill out this downloadable application and give it to your county election office by mail, email, or fax. To request an application for an absentee ballot in an alternative format such as Braille, please call 1-877-600-8683.

Find Your County Election Office

This resource helps you find the fax number, mail address, and email of you county's election office. This is where you can send in your absentee ballot.

Sample Ballot

This resource tells you the candidates that will appear on your ballot in the election. You will know which candidates are running for office based on the address you enter.

Have an Agent Pick Up Your Ballot (Agent Delivery)

You can pick up an absentee ballot for someone else who cannot turn in the ballot themself.

Poll Finder

Use this resource to find the location of your polling place.

Voting Tools for Self-Advocates

Voting Resources

On this page, find resources about voting. Learn about accessibility, knowing your rights, and resources to help you vote.

SABE GoVOTER Project Toolkit

This toolkit tells you how to figure out problems at the polling place, voting laws and rights.

SABE Voter Education Toolkit

This toolkit gives all the educational resources needed to complete the GoVOTER Training. It works to educate people with disabilities on the voting process.

Voting Info

Click the link to see the rules surrounding registering to vote. This includes your voting rights, voting machines, voter ID laws, voting stories and videos, and voting and guardianship.

Voting Tools for The Arc Minnesota Regional Offices and Nonprofits

Nonprofit VOTE's Webinar Series

These are trainings and discussions on nonpartisan voter engagement for nonprofits with experts in the field.

REV UP Campaign Resources

REV UP shares voter resources, state resources, election information, and more.

REV UP Issues Guide

This resource provides overviews of the issues, legislation, and regulations that have an impact on the disability community.

Voter Engagement

This webpage houses beneficial REV UP materials for participating organizations.