Everyone deserves an equal say in the policy decisions that shape their lives. However, for people with disabilities, there’s a one-in-three chance that they will experience a barrier that makes it harder to vote. In recognition of this issue, Disability Voting Rights Week (DVRW) is held yearly to promote education and collective action to ensure people with disabilities can fully participate in democracy. Here in Missouri, disability-rights advocates mark the week by hosting educational events, sharing resources, and celebrating the grassroots disabled activists who are driving change.
For this year’s DVRW (Sept. 14-18), we’ve released an updated “Disability and Voting Accessibility in Missouri” policy brief and one-page fact sheet. Both highlight new statistics on voter turnout from the 2024 general election and offer policy recommendations for making elections more accessible. For example, did you know that 10% of Missourians who cast their vote in the November 2024 election had a disability? That may seem small, but elections have been decided by much smaller margins. Nationally, nearly a quarter of all voters (22%) either had a disability or lived in a household affected by one.
In elections from 2010 to 2024, voter turnout among Missourians with disabilities was 7.8 percentage points lower on average than their nondisabled counterparts. Policy recommendations for eliminating barriers to voting include pretesting polling locations for accessibility, expanding absentee and mail-in ballot access, and easing signature and ID requirements.
We’ve been proud to play a role in this movement. In 2024, we shared key statistics and policy recommendations to help improve access to the ballot box for Missourians with disabilities. We also partnered with advocates to co-coordinate a proclamation and signing celebration to recognize DVRW in Missouri. Self-advocates gathered at the Missouri Capitol as Governor Mike Parson signed the proclamation, attesting to the importance of disability inclusion as essential to an accessible democracy.
When we make room for the perspectives of people with disabilities and their families – in the electorate, in policy conversations, and in public office – we all benefit from a stronger democracy.
