Please copy and disatribute.
Jim Dickson, [log in to unmask], writes on:

National Voter Registration Act Implementation
If Americans with disabilities vote at the same rate as people
without disabilities there would be at least five million additional votes
cast November 7, 2000.  A major reason for the failure of most Americans
with disabilities to vote is they are not registered to vote.  With Rights
Comes Responsibilities.
 *       In 1993 the National Voter Registration Act (Motor
Voter) was signed into law.
*       Section 7a of the NVRA requires all public and private agencies
serving people with disabilities to offer voter registration to their
clients at in-take, re-certification, and change of address.  If an
agency's services are not provided in agency offices the person who
provides itinerant services must also offer voter registration services.
*       If the individual declines to register to vote the agency must
obtain the individual's signature on a declination form and keep that form
on file for 22 months.
*       Some agencies, but by no means all, that are covered
under this law include:  Vocational/Rehabilitation; Special Education;
Commissions for the Deaf and the Blind; Para-transit Providers;
Independent Living Centers; Disability Specific Service Providers such as
ARCs, MS Society, Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Associations,
etc.
*       Most disability agencies are in violation of the NVRA.  A 1998
National Organization on Disability/Harris poll reports that only 25% of
people with disabilities have been asked by a service provider to register
to vote.
 Contact the service providers in your area and ask the
questions on the following questionnaire.

National Voter Registration Act
Implementation Questionnaire Form

Agency Name:  _________________________________________________________

Agency Address:  ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Agency Phone:  ______________________

Contact Person:  _____________________

Date:  ____________

Questions:
1)      Does your agency offer the opportunity to register to vote to your
clients as part of intake?
________  YES           __________  NO
2)      Does your agency offer the opportunity to register
to vote to your clients as they receive services from your agency? _______
YES            __________  NO
3)      Does your agency keep records of those clients who
decline to register to vote?
________  YES           __________  NO
4)  Who in your agency is in charge of ensuring that your
agency complies with the National Voter Registration
Act?________________________________________

Name of surveyor:  _____________________

Address:        __________________________________________

                __________________________________________

Phone Number:  _____________________

Please return this information to Adina Topfer, National Organization on
Disability, 910 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006 or by email to
[log in to unmask]

Thanks in advance for getting the survey to as many people as possible,
whether you reprint it in your newsletter or listserve, or pass it out
at meetings!
Additional voting links, including links to online registration can be
found at http://www.disabilitynews.com/vote2.htm


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Darrell Paulsen, Founder/CEO
Paulsen & Company, Inc.  Email us : MAILTO:[log in to unmask]
804 4th Street So.
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075
(651) 455-3013 TDD (651) 450-8733

Surf out What's NEW on our Products Page
http://www.winternet.com/~disabled/product.html

And, don't forget to tell your friends and co-workers about
iGive and your favorite cause.  It's the easiest way to raise money!
Just have them go to http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=6653

(c)1996-2000 All material on this site is copyright protected.
Revised by : Ray Manning 3rd of Paulsen & Company.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This message posted by Paulsen and Co a non-profit disability awareness
organization.  For more information about us please check out our
website at:   http://www.winternet.com/~disabled/  [The Opinions And
Views Discussed Above Are Those Of The Writers, And Not Necessarily
Supported By The Groups Or Organizations Mention Above.]
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
___________________________________________________________________

     DISABLED & VOTES !!! DISABLED & VOTES !!! DISABLED & VOTES !!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------