Thread by @TheArcofTexas

🧵 Today's webinar on #VotingRights for Texans w/disabilities & 65+ is covering vote-by-mail.

When you fill out the form, you might wonder what's the difference b/t being an assister or a witness for vote-by-mail?

#CripTheVote

@DisRightsTx Jeff Miller & Molly Broadway:

Witness: Someone who is will attest that it is your signature & the information on your form is correct.

Assister: Someone who helps you fill out the form, help you read the application, & ensure you're checking the right boxes

"Assistance is important so Texans w/disabilities, especially those with intellectual and developmental disabilities ... can meaningfully cast their ballot as privately as independently as possible," says our Director of Public Policy & Advocacy @advoc8tx #CripTheVote #txlege

Jeff Miller points out that it's also your right as an eligible voter to have assistance. "Voters with disabilities want to vote."

"People also have the right to choose someone who understands their support needs and allows them to vote as they see fit," says @advoc8tx

Jeff says the biggest changes Texans w/disabilities & assister will see when they fill out a ballot by mail or go to the polls is collecting info about the people who are assisting voters. The assister has to provide name, address, & relationship to the voter they're assisting.

There’s also a new oath for assisters that says you’re not going to try to influence the person who is voting & you will help them in the way they asked you to. 1 concern in #Disability community is wording of the oath in state law is NOT congruent w/federal law #CripTheVote

Polling locations have to be #accessible (ramps, doors, etc.) as well as at least 1 accessible voting machine at each polling location (to use headphones, adjust contrast, etc).

One way all Texans can prep for voting is to write down in advance who and what you plan to vote, which you can take into the booth with you, says @advoc8tx. (It must be on paper, since you cannot use electronics while you are voting) #CripTheVote

It also helps to make a plan about who might be taking you to vote, or how you will get there. Download our free Plan to Vote checklist: thearcoftexas.org/wp-content/upl…

Here's another great resource creating a voting plan from Self Advocates Becoming Empowered:
sabeusa.org/govoter/vote-t…

#CripTheVote #txlege

Great questions now coming from webinar participants!

Q1: Are ASL interpreters considered assisters? And how does that work if a voter wants an ASL interpreter at the polling site to meet there to assist the voter?
#CripTheVote

Molly says an ASL interpreter is considered assistance.

A1: A voter is allowed to bring/use a person of their choosing. The interpreter can meet you at the polling site (probably better to meet outside the building). the interpreter will need to complete the assistant form/oath

Q2: Is it possible for me to assist my son with an intellectual disability when he goes in to the booth? I am concerned they will think I am telling him to vote for.

@advoc8tx says yes!

A2: You will be his assister. People have the right to choose someone who understands their support needs and allows them to vote as they see fit, not as their supporter may vote. This is given in federal law.

Q3: How will new rules about poll watchers affect people w/disabilities?
A3: Jeff says the law provides that there will be some training for poll watchers. We're hopeful that the training will include voters w/disabilities and their rights.

#CripTheVote

A3 con't: If there's a misunderstanding, don't confront the poll watcher. Go to the election judge and let them know what is going on and your concern. If you still are concerned you aren't getting the help you need, you contact @DisRightsTx BEFORE you leave the polling location

Q4: What if you get a mail-in ballot and decide you want to vote in person instead?

A4: If you surrender your mail-in ballot (turn it in at the polling place), you are able to vote in person. If you aren't able to surrender the mail-in ballot, you will have to vote provisionally

"If we're going to show that there's power in the #DisabilityVote, regardless of your age, we need to register people, we need to educate them on issues ... and most importantly, get out & vote" says @bobkafka from @REVUP_Texas #CripTheVote

Have more questions? Send them our way and we'll share them with the fantastic presenters we heard from today @advoc8tx @LWVTexas @REVUP_Texas to create some FAQs. Thanks for tuning in or following along