Voting is a way to decide what a group wants or who the group wants to represent them. We vote for President, Governor, Mayor, Town Council Members, State Legislators such as Assembly and Senate, and for Members of Congress.Voting is a way for us to voice our opinion about who should represent us. Our elected leaders are picked by people voting in the community. As citizens we elect people who agree with our ideas and feelings about things. We vote for people we think can work for us and solve our problems. We vote for people we trust to help us and who will set the right rules for government.
Voting Resources
There is a wealth of helpful information available for people with developmental disabilities who want to learn more about voting and their rights as American citizens. From finding out how and where to vote, to making sure we’re registered, to letting others know when our voting locations are inaccessible or presenting other barriers to voting, there are organizations and individuals who can help out at every step of the process.
Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) Program
Disability Rights New Jersey’s PAVA Program ensures that every eligible person with a disability has the opportunity to vote on Election Day. Click the link for a full list of resources to help you through the voting process.
Register to Vote
Before we can vote, we first have to register with the State of New Jersey to do so. The process is easy, and can be done online or by mail.
Learn About Your Candidate
If we Don’t Vote, we can’t complain about the leaders we get.
Most of the time, several people may be running for the same position at the same time. When you vote, it is important to make sure that you are casting your vote for someone whose beliefs about how our community should be run are similar to your own.
While this may seem like a challenge, there are many resources available to help you learn more about the candidates running in an election.
Find you Polling Station
Once you register to vote, you will be assigned a specific location where you will go to vote on Election Day. This location is chosen based on your home address, and is usually at a public location (such as a school, church, or government building) nearest to where you live. Click here to find out the location of YOUR polling station.
Voting Guide: Voting: It’s Your Right
Voting: It’s Your Right is a guide about voting rights and the voting process in New Jersey written in clear language for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The updated 6th Edition, available electronically in English and Spanish, provides readers with information on:
- Registering and preparing to vote
- Options for voting by mail and in-person
- Voting rights and accessibility
- Contacting election officials with questions
Voting: It’s Your Right was developed by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, in collaboration with New Jersey’s Developmental Disabilities Network Partners, Disability Rights New Jersey and the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Download guide – English (PDF)
Download guide – Spanish (PDF)
Limited quantities are available in hard copy format through the Publications Order Form.
Voting: It’s Your Right is also available as an E-Learning course
The RespectAbility Report
RespectAbilityUSA.com has been closely following this year’s election, reporting on all issues important to Americans with disabilities. View their RespectAbility Report to learn more about the candidates and how disability issues are influencing this election season
RevUP! New Jersey
The Alliance Center for Independence has been conducting a grassroots campaign to urge all New Jersey residents with disabilities to vote. Visit the RevUP! New Jersey webpage to learn more and get involved.