New data shows that the number of eligible voters with disabilities is on the rise. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)
People with disabilities are poised to be a powerful voting bloc in the upcoming election, but issues important to this population are getting little attention, advocates say.
A report out this week from Rutgers University shows that an estimated 40.2 million people with disabilities will be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 presidential election. That’s more potential voters with disabilities than eligible voters who are Hispanic or Black.
Moreover, the data indicates that a third of all eligible voters are either people with disabilities or individuals who live with someone who has a disability.
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“People with disabilities are the sleeping tiger in American politics,” said Lisa Schur, co-director of the Rutgers Program for Disability Research and an author of the report. “They represent a large and growing portion of the electorate, and they could make a critical difference in the outcome of this and future elections.”
Despite this, advocates say that the presidential candidates aren’t doing much to appeal to this constituency.
Multiple disability organizations said that they haven’t received any response from the campaigns of former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris to questionnaires or memos outlining concerns significant to this population.
Dom Kelly, president, CEO and co-founder of New Disabled South, a disability rights group focused on the South, said his group’s advocacy arm sent questionnaires asking candidates about everything from subminimum wage and Supplemental Security Income benefits to how they would include people with disabilities in policymaking.
“These are all issues we care deeply about in our work, and not issues we’ve seen either candidate specifically prioritize,” Kelly said. “As in other election cycles, we’re continuing to see candidates routinely cast aside the voices and experiences of disabled people across the country.”
Policy proposals to address the needs of people with disabilities have also been limited.
Harris recently announced a plan to expand Medicare to cover in-home health. If approved, the proposal, which would primarily help seniors receive care in their homes rather than in institutional environments, could benefit individuals with disabilities who are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, said Nicole Jorwic, chief of advocacy and campaigns at Caring Across Generations, an organization advocating for caregivers and people who rely on them. Expanding Medicare could also potentially alleviate pressure on Medicaid’s long-term care system by shifting costs for some beneficiaries, she said.
In addition, Harris’ campaign website indicates that she’s committed to “expanding high-quality home care services for seniors and people with disabilities” and that she wants to end the use of subminimum wage.
The issues page on Trump’s website does not make any mention of people with disabilities and advocates said they had not seen any proposals from the former president to address long-term care. Meanwhile, Trump recently drew broad condemnation for describing Harris as “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled” during speeches as his campaign rallies.
Lydia Dawson, vice president of government relations at the American Network of Community Options and Resources, or ANCOR, said her group, which represents 2,100 disability service providers across the nation, wants to hear more from both candidates about how they would improve services for people with developmental disabilities.
“With 77% of providers turning away new referrals and more than half considering additional service closures, we’re looking to candidates to acknowledge the importance of long-term care and the vital need to strengthen and sustain community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Dawson said. “We are looking now to both candidates to put forward their plans to address the direct support workforce crisis and the next administration to partner with ANCOR and other community partners in ensuring access to community-based care.”
Now, with Election Day drawing near, advocates are focused on ensuring that people with disabilities are able to cast their ballots.
Officials at The Arc of the United States said they are hosting events across the nation to register voters and they’re offering plain-language information about voting in English and Spanish on their website. They are also taking legal action to oppose laws that they worry will suppress the vote.
“People with disabilities face many barriers in exercising their right to vote, so we are educating voters on their rights and making sure they are ready for Election Day,” said Claire Manning, the group’s senior director of advocacy and mobilization.
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