
Take Action Now!
Nineteen Michigan politicians have signed the pledge as of October 29, 2021!
The Power Pledge
Institutions that fully include disabled people are fairer, more accountable, safe, and compassionate for everyone. Equitable access to voting is essential for every member of society. Disabled people, like all people systematically excluded from power, must have the ability to vote and to have our votes counted.
I pledge to support legislation that advances equity for disabled people, and to oppose legislation and other efforts to suppress the votes of disabled people or other members of our society.
Add your name to our list; we are aiming to get 100 people signed up this week!
Use our easy email and social media tools to demand that candidates sign the pledge.
Follow a few simple steps to ensure you get credit for taking this important stand.
Why The Power Pledge Is Essential
Systemic barriers prevent people with disabilities from voting at the same rates as our non-disabled peers.
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In 2016, 60% of polling locations surveyed by the federal government across the country had at least one barrier to physical access or to private, independent voting for people in need of accommodations.
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More than 20,000 polling places in the United States are inaccessible in one way or another.
If disabled people had full access to the polls, as many as two million more votes would be cast in national elections!
And many disabled voters face other barriers to voting.
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In the United States, rates of disability are higher among Black and Indigenous people as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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All of these identities also overlap disproportionately with poverty and experience with incarceration. And people living under these unjust systems have reduced or no voting power due to:
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uneven geographic distribution of polls
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inadequate early voting
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unfair, partisan redistricting
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voter registration limits and purges
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discrimination against people with mental and emotional disabilities
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burdensome voter identification requirements and
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other measures to suppress the vote.
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The good news is that when electoral processes provide more options and more flexibility, turnout increases among disabled as well as non-disabled voters. Expanded hours and locations, multiple options for how to cast a ballot, and simpler systems can enable everyone to vote. To engage every citizen in our democracy, everyone must have the right to vote in ways that are convenient and accessible to them.
Among signatories of the Power Pledge to date are
Current elected officials
Michigan State Senators: Hon. Stephanie Chang, Hon. Jeff Irwin, Hon. Sean McCann
Michigan State Representatives: Hon. Abraham Aiyash, Hon. Mary Cavanagh, Hon. Rachel Hood, Hon. Matt Koleszar, Hon. Mari Manoogian, Hon. Christine Morse, Hon. Laurie Pothutsky, Hon. Ranjeev Puri, Hon. Samantha Steckloff, Hon. Shri Thanedar
Kalamazoo County Commissioner: Hon. Jen Strebs
Former elected officials
Former Michigan State Representative: Jon Hoadley
Former Kalamazoo County Commissioner: Stephanie Williams
Current candidates for elected office
Running for Hamtramck City Council: Lynn Blasey
Running for Detroit City Clerk: Denzel McCampbell
Power Pledge campaign organized by Detroit Disability Power