September 9–13 is now Disability Voting Rights Week in Missouri. This designation presents an opportunity to highlight the realities of voting accessibility. There are an estimated 44.2 million Americans with disabilities. This group includes individuals who reported trouble with hearing, vision, cognition or memory, walking, self-care, or independent living. Disability impacts people of all ages, races, genders, sexualities, nationalities, and other identities, making the disability community inclusive of diverse lived experiences.
People with disabilities deserve equal opportunities to bring their informed perspectives to the polls and influence policies that affect their daily lives. Policy recommendations included in this brief would support the efforts of the disability community across the state to make voting processes more accessible for all Missourians.