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September 13-20 is National Disability Voter Registration Week!

Posted on 09/17/21 by Joseph in Advocacy

And, I want to say that your vote matters.

Every voter’s choice has an impact and as a group, your voice is amplified.

That group can be a political party, people concerned about a certain issue, or people living in a certain place. Other people care about the same things you do. It is important that you and those around you vote so that the issues you care about are addressed.

More than 1.5 million people in Ohio have one or more disabilities. Your voice and your vote matter, and impacts the world around you.

Two buttons in red, white & blue.


Why Vote Now?

There are several important elections on November 2nd! There will be a new mayor of Cleveland for the first time in 16 years, so if you live in the city, make sure you your voice heard. There will also be votes for city council, which plays an important role in the city.

For those who live in the 11th congressional district, which includes much of Cleveland and eastern suburbs, the election to fill Marcia Fudge’s seat is on November 2nd. You can check your congressional district online, just type in your zip code.


How to Register to Vote:

Registering to vote is the process of verifying where you live and who you are so that you can vote in upcoming elections. Right now, is a great time to register to vote! Registration ends on October 4thand if you are not registered you will not be able to vote in the November 2nd elections this year (2021).

Register online at Ohio’s Online Voter Registration System website. If you prefer, you can have a paper registration form sent to you by calling The Cuyahoga Board of elections at 216.443.8683. If you live outside Cuyahoga County, you can find your Board of elections phone number at county boards of elections.

Registering in-person is also an option, you can do so at the Cuyahoga board of election, public libraries, the Ohio Bureau of Motor vehicles and most government offices. Don’t let all the options make you think registration is complicated, once you go to the website, call, or show up in-person the process is straightforward.

If you think you may already be registered to vote in Ohio, you can check Ohio’s online Voter Search system. You can also update your information. I just moved and I updated my address online!


How to Vote:

Once you’re registered you have two options to vote.

    • You have to bring identification, such as a photo ID issued by the government or a current utility bill, with you.
    • If you need assistance, you may bring someone with you to help you vote or ask for assistance from a poll worker.
    • If you are not able to physically enter the polling location you can vote curbside. When you arrive at the voting place, inform poll workers of your desire to vote, and poll workers will bring you a ballot which you can fill out in a vehicle or outside of the building.

  • The second option to vote is to vote absentee. You can request a ballot to be sent to you in the mail. The request form can be downloaded at VoteOhio.gov. And places such as public libraries, have vote-by-mail request forms readily available. The completed form can be mailed to your local board of elections or returned in person to your board of elections. The request to have a ballot mailed to you has to be made by the Saturday before Election Day.

    • For voters with a disability, there is an Accessible Absentee option which allows for the absentee ballot to be filled out online. You need to fill out the online request form that has to printed, signed, and mailed to your county board of elections. Like absentee voting you have to fill out a request form and mail it in, but your ballot will be available over the internet rather than sent to you by mail.

People with disabilities are over 10% of the US population, last year over 38 million people with disabilities were eligible to vote. Your voice, your vote can make a big impact. Make sure you are registered and a have a plan in place to vote this November 2nd.


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