October, 2004
I'm beginning to wonder if things will ever get back to "normal" in my life. I just moved and everything I own is still in boxes. I can't find anything. I used to think it was weird when I saw "Moving" listed in those silly polls that rate life's most stressful events. But now, I can see why...I spent an entire hour yesterday searching for my alarm clock, and I still couldn't find it. You know you're in bad shape when the movers are asking where you want things in your new place, and you have to overcome the desire to burst into tears and yell....I Want It Where It Was!....
I was checking over my list of places to change my address with and I realized that since I've moved I have to re-register to vote. . With Election Day approaching I thought I should review the basics of registering and re-registering for those of you who need it. First of all, before you can vote, you have to register (sign up). You can sign up to vote if you are:
- A U.S. citizen
- A California resident
- At least 18 years old by the next election
- Not serving time in prison or on parole for a felony and
- You have not been judged by a court to be mentally incompetent to register to vote.
You must re-register if:
- You have moved, even if you only moved across the street or
- You have changed your name or
- You want to change the political party you chose on your last registration form
- You have recently had your right to vote restored (been released from prison or gotten off parole or had a conservatorship change that restored a right to vote).
The deadline to register to vote in the November 2nd, 2004 Election is October 18th. You can find out more about the registration process and all things voting at just like I did at www.easyvoter.org.
People with disabilities are the single largest block of people who do not vote in this Country. I knew that as a general rule, people with disabilities do not have a high turnout rate, but when I saw the actual numbers I was stunned. According to the 2000 United States Census, there are more than 16 million people with disabilities across the country that are not registered to vote. In 2000, 41% of Americans with disabilities voted compared to 51% of all adults.
People with disabilities have been labeled the "Sleeping Giant" of American politics. I think those numbers are pretty scary. People with disabilities have some of the highest utilization rates for public services of any group in this Country, yet we haven't exercised our political clout to show policy-makers, what we truly want. I have this to say to people with disabilities out there, who are part of this "Sleeping Giant." Wake Up!! Register!! Vote!! If you aren't sure what to do, contact the Monterey County Elections Department at (831) 796-1499.
If you think that you might have questions or problems when you vote at the polling place on Election Day, November 2nd, there is help out there. Protection and Advocacy Inc, (PAI) a disability rights law firm will have attorneys and advocates available by telephone to answer your questions about any disability related voting problem that you might experience. Call PAI at 1-800-514-1731 Voice/TDD/English and Spanish. For languages other than Spanish, call 1-800-541-1731, please state your language, stay on the line and an interpreter will be connected. If you are a person who is deaf and use California Relay call 1-800-735-2929 (ASL) or 1-800-855-3000 (Spanish). I'm just going to keep saying this over and over...Feel the Power of the Disability Vote. Vote November 2nd!