Election Engagement Hub

If you have trouble while voting, you can call or text the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. Election Protection volunteers are trained to respond to accessibility concerns (thanks to many REV UP coalitions and partners!). We at AAPD, in collaboration with other national disability organizations, will be also on-call at the national level to address specific issues as needed.

If you experience discrimination at your polling place, which includes lack of accessible voting, we highly encourage you to submit a report about your experience to the Department of Justice. You can also reach out to your state’s Protection and Advocacy Agency to report your experience and get help taking action.

We’re thrilled to announce that AAPD’s REV UP Voting Campaign is partnering with Microsoft and Lyft to provide free or discounted rides to the polls on November 5, 2024 in seven cities where Lyft has wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) rides available. This code can also be used to book standard rides, if you do not need a WAV. For both WAV and standard rides, we recommend reserving your ride in advance to avoid wait times and ensure you can get to the polls.

Here’s how it works:

Use the code MSFTA11YVOTE for $15 off per ride, valid for two rides. This offer is available in: Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; New York City, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Portland, OR; and San Francisco, CA.

Instructions for booking WAV:

1. To book a wheelchair-accessible ride, download and open the Lyft app. Open settings, then select “wheelchair access.”
2. When you book your ride, you will see “Wheelchair” as a ride type.
3. Enter the code MSFTA11YVOTE when booking your ride to and from your polling place.
4. Receive $15 off two rides on November 5.

Instructions for booking a standard ride:

1. Download and open the Lyft app
2. Enter the code MSFTA11YVOTE when booking your ride to and from your polling place.
3. Receive $15 off two rides on November 5.

Important Note: If you experience accessibility issues while using your Lyft to and from the polling place, please let us know using this feedback form, and AAPD will follow up with Lyft about any access issues that occur. If the form is not accessible to you, you can also email akemerling@aapd.com. Please include the subject line: “11.05 Lyft Report” and answer the questions in the attached Word document.

Make sure to check out our State Guides for Disabled Voters. Once you’ve reviewed the information about voting in your state and your rights as a disabled voter, then download our My Plan to Vote worksheet and use it to make your voting plan!

At REV UP, we build the power of the disability vote. That means making sure that every one of the more than 40 million eligible voters with disabilities is registered and ready to vote and has access to the ballot.

That’s why each election, we publish guides for disabled voters in all 50 states and Washington, DC. 

Find our 2024 voting guide for your state here.

AAPD just released four blogs to provide voters with information about changes that have occurred since the 2020 election on a few key disability policy issues. AAPD is nonpartisan and does not support or oppose any candidate for office. We do urge individuals with disabilities and their allies to thoroughly research the candidates who will be on their ballot and consider which candidates demonstrate a commitment to prioritizing issues that are important to people with disabilities. 

As Americans begin to vote, AAPD is providing information about some of those key disability policy issues, and relevant policy changes in those issue areas since the last presidential election.

Check out these policy brief blogs to learn more: 

• Project 2025, People with Disabilities, and Other Marginalized Communities

• HHS’s New Section 504 and Section 1557 Regulations

• Improvements To the Care Economy Since 2020 

• DOT Improves Air Travel for Passengers with Disabilities

Let’s be honest: disabled voters are one of the largest voting blocs in America, yet we are often overlooked and ignored. We’re one week away from Election Day, and it’s time for disabled people’s power to be recognized.

That’s why AAPD was so proud to collaborate with our partners at New Disabled South, Detroit Disability Power, and Disability Culture Lab to release this nonpartisan ad focused on the power of the disability vote. This ad was deployed last week in eight critical swing states to remind voters and elected officials that disabled people VOTE! We will not be counted out.

In addition to our state guides, we have a resource with Plain Language definitions of some important voting words and terms.

Read our Plain Language definitions of voting words and terms here.

During the 2024 presidential election cycle, media will play a vital role in helping voters make informed decisions. AAPD sent this memo to major American news networks with guidance and resources in three areas: 1) Ensuring disabled voters can make informed decisions; 2) Ensuring disabled voters can access information, and; 3) Following inclusive and respectful best practices.

Click here to read the memo.

During the 2024 presidential election cycle, media will play a vital role in helping voters make informed decisions. AAPD sent this memo to major American news networks with guidance and resources in three areas: 1) Ensuring disabled voters can make informed decisions; 2) Ensuring disabled voters can access information, and; 3) Following inclusive and respectful best practices.

Click here to read the memo.

In January 2024, AAPD, a nonpartisan organization, sent identical letters to the chairs and co-chairs of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Republican National Committee (RNC) calling on them to condemn and put a stop to the use of language, jokes, and incorrect information that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about and prejudices against disabled people.

The letter cites multiple examples of presidential hopefuls from both parties using ableist rhetoric and stereotypes. When touted by presidential candidates, these examples of ableism can have serious and devastating impacts for the millions of Americans with disabilities who need and deserve dignity, respect, and opportunity.

You can read the text of the letter here.

Governor Asa Hutchinson was a Republican 2024 candidate for President of the United States. He served as the 46th Governor of the State of Arkansas. 

Despite Governor Hutchinson’s decision to end his presidential campaign, we are grateful for his response to our Disability Presidential Candidate Questionnaire. Every Presidential Candidate needs to make disability rights a priority, and filling out our questionnaire is the first step!

Click here to read Governor Hutchinson’s response.

Voters with disabilities deserve to make informed decisions on the issues that matter to them, and through the Disability Presidential Candidate Survey, AAPD will gather candidates’ positions and priorities on issues important to the disability community. The  candidate questionnaire is non-partisan, and was sent today to Republican, Democrat, and third-party candidates. Unedited candidate responses will be made public as they are received and shared with AAPD’s network and the broader disability community. 

With this candidate survey, AAPD hopes to increase the visibility and importance of disability issues within candidate platforms.

Click here to read the survey and learn more.