PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE

Everyone wants to vote, including voters with mental disabilities.  If you are a voter with a mental disability, you should know your rights.  Knowing your rights will help make sure you can vote.  Print out and take this piece of paper with you when you go to vote so you will know what your rights are.  You can also show this to others if you run into any problems.  This paper tells lawyers and poll workers where to find the laws that protect your right to vote!

You DO have the right to Vote!

... If you are a person with a m ental disability and understand what it means to vote, Federal law protects your right to vote.

The laws that protect that right:  The Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities act, 42 U.S.C. 12132; Doe v. Rowe, 156 F.Suppl.2d.35 (D.Me.2001)

You have the right to get help from a person YOU choose.

... If you can't read or need help voting because of your disability, you can have someone help you vote.

... You can bring a friend, family member or someone else you trust to help you.

... You can ask the poll worker to help you if you didn't bring anyone with you.

The law that gives you that right:  The Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973aa-6; The Americans with Disabilities act, 42 U.S.C. 12132

If you have a problem, you can get help by calling 1 - 866 - OUR - VOTE

... Lawyers are available to give voters with disabilities and other voters advice and help with voting problems, so call 1 - 866 - OUR-VOTE (1 - 866 - 687-8683).

The law says EVERYONE gets to cast a ballot, so don't leave without voting!

... Even if someone says you cannot vote, the law says the poll worker must allow you to vote a special ballot called a Provisional Ballot.

... Later, an election worker will decide whether you are allowed to vote in the election.  If you are, your vote will be counted.

The law that gives you that right:  The Help America Vote act, 42 U.S.C. 15482.

For more information about the rights of voters with disabilities, visit www.ndrn.org

For a free pamphlet on A Guide to Voting Rights of People with Mental Disabilities, contact the Student Services Office at 610-966-8314, or e-mail mfrantz@eastpennsd.org or jafflerbach@eastpennsd.org.