14 STEPS TO BECOMING A MORE INVOLVED VOTER IN 2014 Alicia Boehme – Disability Rights Wisconsin Jason Endres – People First Wisconsin John Shaw – Board for People with Developmental Disabilities

W ISDOM OF J USTIN D ART J R. Vote as if your life depends on it – because it does…..

“T HE MOST COMMON WAY PEOPLE GIVE UP POWER IS BY THINKING THEY DON ’ T HAVE ANY ” -- ALICE W ALKER

14. J OIN THE W ISCONSIN D ISABILITY V OTE C OALITION

W ISCONSIN D ISABILITY V OTE C OALITION W EBSITE /F ACEBOOK P AGE s Facebook page posts Resources Videos Up-to-date information! Candidate Forums JOIN TODAY

13. E DUCATE YOURSELF ON THE VOTING PROCESS What you need to know: How to do I register to vote? How can I get an absentee ballot? Can I vote early? Where is my polling place? What do I need to bring when I go vote? If I have a guardian, can I still vote? What happens if I live in a nursing home or an institution? Can I take someone to the polls and help them fill out a ballot? And may more….

H OW TO FIND OUT THE ANSWERS …. Voting in Wisconsin: A guide for citizens with disabilities Guardianship brochure Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition Website Toll-Free hotline at DRW (tty) My Vote Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Website

W ISCONSIN D ISABILITY V OTE C OALITION V IDEO

12. L EARN ABOUT THE ELECTIONS Who is up for elections? Spring v Fall Primary v. General election Election dates for 2014 Spring Elections Non-partisan & local Judges Supreme Court Justices Municipal, county and education officials Fall Elections Partisan State Representatives (every 2 years) State Senators (every 4 years) Governor (every 4 years) Congressperson (every 2 years) U.S. Senator (every 6 years) President (4 years)

E LECTION D AYS 2014 – M ARK YOUR CALENDAR Spring Primary February 18, 2014 Spring General Election April 1, 2014 Fall Primary August 12, 2014 General Election November 4, 2014

11. T ALK TO OTHERS ABOUT VOTING Friends and family People first groups Other organizations and support groups At school Co-workers Provider packet

10. S EE IF YOUR POLLING PLACE IS ACCESSIBLE Do polling sites need to be accessible? What does being accessible mean? Voting Day Accessibility Checklist IDEA: Vote on the accessible machine!!

9. R UN FOR OFFICE School board, county board, city council Or get involved in other ways: City committee County Committee Learn local politics

8. L EARN ABOUT CHANGES TO VOTING LAWS AND CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR State laws vary widely and make a difference Same Day Registration: Wisconsin is a top voter-turnout state 2010 Presidential Election United States: 41% VTO Wisconsin: 52% VTO, Minnesota: 55% VTO Texas: 32% VTO Photo ID Law Current activity at Wisconsin State Capitol DAWN Website:

7. A TTEND A CANDIDATES FORUM What is a candidate forum? Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition has sponsored them… Wisconsin Eye Summary of event

6. V OLUNTEER ON A CAMPAIGN If you feel strongly, get involved! If you work for them they may be more likely to work for you! Make calls Drop off literature Establish a relationship

5. B ECOME A POLL WORKER It pays! Ask to break into shifts.

4. L EARN WHERE YOUR CANDIDATES STAND ON THE ISSUES What are the issues for you? State level issues Federal level issues Local level issues How do I find out? Wisconsin Vote: League of Women Voters Call the candidate and ask TV Websites Newspapers Facebook page BEWARE: Sort out truth

3. T AKE SOMEONE TO THE POLLS Are you allowed to drive someone to the polls? Can you help someone to vote? Can you tell someone how to vote?

2. R EGISTER TO VOTE Find out if you are registered to vote Residency: 28 consecutive days Ways to register to vote: By Mail: At the municipal clerks office At the Polling Place Special Registration Deputy

And the number one thing you can do in 2014 is…..

# 1 = V OTE

ACAP V IDEO

W HAT WILL YOU PROMISE TO DO ?

QUESTIONS?