Self-Advocate Spotlight: Voter Empowerment
By: Ray Simpson, Self-Advocate
Meet Keith!
“Voting is our first and main way to let our representatives know exactly what we want. There is never a guarantee of getting what we want. But they won’t know unless we tell them.” -Keith
This month for our Self-Advocacy Spotlight newsletter, we will be talking with Keith about what voter empowerment means to him. Keith has been a self-advocate for many years and enjoys attending and helping the Arc during elections. “I have been helping with the Arc each year when they host the candidate forum. (The candidate forum event is hosted by The Arc Minnesota and REV UP MN. Representatives are invited to speak and answer questions for advocates who want to vote.) I am on first name basis with legislators and senators. We chat at several events and enjoy talking with each other. I was also able to participate in disability day at the capital this year thanks to the Arc Minnesota. Volunteers drove two carloads of people that went to the state capital. We spent the day down there. We were able to speak to our representatives.”
Keith feels that everyone should have a voice and a choice when it comes to voter empowerment. “Voter empowerment means increasing voter ability to get involved. Everyone should be able to access voting information and cast their vote freely. People with disabilities should be able to get help to make choices for themselves, instead of only being told what’s on the ballot. There should be an effort to make all polling places accessible. I have had an issue in the past. There was a particular year the polling place was not available. It was moved to a school that didn’t have a way for me to get in. I had gotten a ride from a volunteer from the party I normally vote with. The volunteer let the election judge know that the location wasn’t accessible. An election judge was sent outside who brought me a ballot. The election judged watched me vote, and I was able to vote from the car. I could have said, “oh well I won’t vote”, but I am stubborn. It is a good example of using your voice. It also helps to be stubborn sometimes.”
Voting is a necessary action for Keith. “Voting means getting my voice heard, hopefully. It means I am part of being involved with the process. You can’t guarantee that it will make a change, but it’s better than staying at home and doing nothing. You are showing legislators that you are paying attention. Voting is our first and main way to let our representatives know exactly what we want. There is never a guarantee of getting what we want. But they won’t know unless we tell them. Hopefully when we tell them our story, it becomes more than just words. My hope is that when people with disabilities show up, representatives will pay more attention to what we want. That they will see our determination.”
Keith shared some ways self-advocates can find resources and information to vote. “Look up your representatives on the internet. You can research them and find out if they support groups you support. The Arc also has resources. Figure out what big issues are important to you and research them. Have difficult conversations with your legislators. Get involved with candidate forums with the Arc and REV UP MN when they have them. It’s a great way to have a face-to-face meeting with elected officials. This way people have a face in their head when they are voting. Voting is just the first step. It is important to keep contact. Go to events, write letters, get involved. That’s how we make things happen. There are always ways to get involved.”