Why Voting Matters
Voting is about having a voice.
For people with disabilities, decisions made by elected leaders can affect healthcare, housing, transportation, employment, education, and community services. Voting offers an opportunity to influence those decisions and participate fully in community life.
Voting is also an expression of self-determination. It allows people to make their own choices, advocate for what matters to them, and have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
People with disabilities are not just recipients of services. They are citizens, neighbors, community members, and voters. Their perspectives matter, and their voices deserve to be heard.
The Right to Vote Belongs to Everyone
People with disabilities have the same voting rights as other eligible voters. Yet misconceptions still exist. Having a disability does not mean someone cannot or should not vote.
Every eligible voter has the right to learn about issues, form their own opinions, and cast a ballot based on their personal beliefs and preferences.
The Choice Is Theirs
A cornerstone of voting is the freedom to make your own choice.
People may support different candidates, parties, or issues. Every voter has the right to make decisions based on what matters most to them.
Family members, caregivers, and support staff can help people access information, understand the voting process, or get to the polls. However, the decision itself belongs to the voter.
Supporting someone’s right to vote means respecting their right to make their own decision, even when others might choose differently.
Supporting Participation at MORA
At MORA, supporting voting participation starts with asking individuals what assistance, if any, they would like. This may include information about mail-in voting, early voting, or getting to the polls on Election Day.
“In my eight years at MORA, I have personally supported one individual in getting to their polling place. The primary barriers were transportation and navigating the polling location while using a walker. In previous work as a group home administrator, I also helped people access information from the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office so they could make informed decisions for themselves.” -Kathleen, Casey, Program Supervisor
These experiences highlight an important point: sometimes, exercising the right to vote requires practical support to overcome barriers. A ride to the polls, accessible information, or help understanding the process can make a meaningful difference.
Our role is not to tell people how to vote or make decisions for them. It is to ask what support they want, help make participation possible, and respect each person’s independence, privacy, and choices.
People communicate, learn, and make decisions in different ways. Some may benefit from accessible information, extra time, assistance reading a ballot, or alternative communication methods. Needing support does not mean someone cannot participate.
Families, caregivers, and service providers can support voting rights by:
- Providing accessible, nonpartisan election information.
- Helping individuals register to vote when requested.
- Assisting with transportation, mail-in voting, or accessible voting equipment.
- Respecting privacy and personal choice.
- Avoiding pressure or influence about how someone should vote.
Every Voice Matters
A strong democracy includes everyone.
When people with disabilities participate in elections, they help ensure their experiences, priorities, and perspectives are represented. Their participation strengthens communities and reinforces the principle that every citizen deserves an opportunity to be heard.
Protecting the right to vote is not about politics. It is about dignity, inclusion, self-determination, and equal participation in community life.
Every eligible voter deserves the opportunity to make their voice heard. People with disabilities are no exception.
Learn More
- VOTE411
- Vote.gov: Voting Information
- ADA.gov: Information on Disability Rights
- Minnesota Secretary of State: Voting Information
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