Category: 2022 Campaign

In 2022, Barriers Remain for People with Disabilities in the Midterm Elections

illustration of a ballot box with the word "vote" on it in front of an American flag

In 2022, Barriers Remain for People with Disabilities in the Midterm Elections

Published by Hiram Helfman on December 7, 2022

The Americans with Disabilities Act protects voting rights for people with disabilities, but 32 years after its passage, voters with disabilities still experienced barriers to participating in the polls. In this election cycle, some particularly significant issues included a lack of poll worker training on using ADA-compliant voting equipment and poll workers not properly addressing challenges that prevent people with disabilities from voting.

Disability Pride On The Rise Among Candidates for Public Office

Headshots of John Fetterman and Ollie Cantos, two candidates with disabilities who won in the 2022 elections

Disability Pride On The Rise Among Candidates for Public Office

Published by Adina Karten on December 7, 2022

Having a disability in government has typically meant concealing, masking, or otherwise hiding any difference of mind or body on the campaign trail and in office. Franklin Delano Roosevelt remained paralyzed from the waist down after a bout of polio. Roosevelt used a wheelchair and leg braces for mobility, which he tried to conceal in public.

While government roles have been filled by people with disabilities before and after Roosevelt, people running for public office have rarely felt comfortable revealing their disability status. Thankfully, there are signs that this is starting to change. Only days prior to the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, John Fetterman had a stroke. Fetterman proceeded to win the Senate seat despite the public nature of his disability. He embraced the use of accommodations and used closed-captioning technology, which translates audio into text on a screen in real time. Additionally, the Chairman of RespectAbility’s Board of Directors and Los Angeles City Council District 4-elect, Ollie Cantos VII, described himself as “blind since birth” on his campaign website.

John Fetterman Elected to United States Senate

John Fetterman standing in front of a factory

John Fetterman Elected to United States Senate

Published by Jimmy Fremgen on November 16, 2022

RespectAbility congratulates Senator-elect John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Senator-elect Fetterman’s victory shows that the voters of Pennsylvania understood something fundamental: disability does not disqualify talented individuals for any type of appointment, including public office.

During a heated Democratic primary in May 2022, Fetterman was abruptly and conspicuously absent from the campaign trail. Campaign staff would eventually confirm that that the candidate had a stroke due to atrial fibrillation and was experiencing auditory processing delays as his body recovered.

For the remainder of the campaign, Fetterman’s team demonstrated the role of reasonable accommodation and ensuring that the barriers posed by even a newly acquired disability need not stand in the way of success. This was especially visible in the use of live captioning at the debate.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Pennsylvania

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Pennsylvania

Published by Gabrielle Zwi on September 28, 2022

Harrisburg, PA, September 28 – In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Pennsylvania Disability Voters’ Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are more than 1,856,929 Pennsylvanians with disabilities, making up 14.5 percent of the total state population.

The nonpartisan disability group RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates the same five key questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to the questionnaire.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Maryland

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Maryland

Published by Gabrielle Zwi on September 28, 2022

Annapolis, MD, September 28 – In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Maryland Disability Voters’ Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are more than 694,317 Marylanders with disabilities, making up 11.6 percent of the total state population.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: New Hampshire

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: New Hampshire

Published by Adina Karten on September 28, 2022

Concord, NH, September 28 – In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest New Hampshire Disability Voters’ Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are more than 183,112 New Hampshire residents with disabilities, making up 13.4 percent of the total state population.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Nevada

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Nevada

Published by Rostom Dadian on September 28, 2022

Carson City, NV, September 28 – In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Nevada Disability Voters’ Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are more than 422,943 Nevada residents with disabilities, making up 13.4 percent of the total state population.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Los Angeles

Los Angeles skyline with a mountain in the background

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Los Angeles

Published by Rostom Dadian on September 28, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, September 28 – In the run up to the 2022 midterm elections, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Los Angeles Disability Voters’ Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are more than 992,000 Angelenos with disabilities. In Los Angeles County, the disability community makes up 9.9 percent of the population, and fully 11.3 percent of California’s statewide population has a disability. 

Sixteen Major Midterm Campaign Websites Leave Out Disabled Voters: Why It Matters

Published by Eric Ascher on September 28, 2022

71% of people with disabilities leave a website immediately if it is not accessible

Washington, D.C., Sept 28 – While one-in-four adults in the U.S. have a disability, and despite continued pressure from disability organizations and activists, 16 of the most prominent midterm campaign websites are not fully accessible to disabled voters. These are the findings of the latest study from Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, released September 27 in Time Magazine.

While 2020 was a difficult year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also a remarkable election year for voters with disabilities. As noted by Rutgers and EAC, “Close to 75 percent of voters with disabilities voted with a mail ballot or early in-person” and “five of six (83 percent) of voters with disabilities voted independently without any difficulty.” 17.7 million voters with disabilities cast their ballots in the 2020 election. These voters are crucial and can make the difference between a winning or a losing campaign.

What National Voter Registration Day Means for Voters with Disabilities

Collage of voting-related photos in the background. Text: Proud Community Partner of National Voter Registration Day. Celebrating 10 years. 2012-2022. NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org

What National Voter Registration Day Means for Voters with Disabilities

Published by Philip Pauli on September 20, 2022

Washington, D.C., September 20 – Today, RespectAbility celebrates National Voter Registration Day. According to the official website, “National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. First observed in 2012, it has quickly gained momentum ever since. Nearly 4.7 million voters have registered to vote on the holiday to date.”

With the 2022 midterm elections only 49 days away, time is running out for people to complete their voter registration. As RespectAbility encourages all voters to ensure they are registered, it also is important to bring attention to the distinct barriers faced by a major voting bloc that is all too often ignored when their exercise their right to vote – the one in five Americans living with a disability.

In total, there are 61 million adults with disabilities across the country. Yet despite the size of the community, voters with disabilities face distinct barriers when it comes to exercising their right to vote. According to researchers at Rutgers University and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): “one in nine voters with disabilities encountered difficulties voting in 2020,” and “voting difficulties were most common among people with vision and cognitive impairments.”

Cortez Masto Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in Nevada Senate Race

Official senate portrait of Catherine Cortez Masto

Cortez Masto Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in Nevada Senate Race

Published by Eric Ascher on September 8, 2022

Carson City, NV, September 8 – Incumbent Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

One-in-five Americans has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. It is also the only one that, due to accident, aging or illness, anyone can join at any time. Indeed, there are more than 422,943 people living with some form of disability in Nevada and their votes could be crucial in deciding who will represent them in the United States Senate.

Senator Cortez Masto is the first candidate in the upcoming Nevada Senate race to respond to RespectAbility’s candidate questionnaire. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes. RespectAbility has reached out to key Senate and gubernatorial campaigns on both sides of the aisle and will be posting all responses on The RespectAbility Report.

Bass Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff

Published by Philip Pauli on September 7, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, September 7 – Los Angeles mayoral candidate and Democratic Congresswoman Karen Bass has responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are approximately one million people living in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area with some form of disability. The disability community makes up 9.9 percent of the population in Los Angeles County and fully 11.3 percent of California’s state population.

RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates in key races across the country a series of questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to our questionnaires.

Wes Moore Wins Maryland Democratic Primary, Faces Dan Cox in November

Published by Philip Pauli on July 26, 2022

Annapolis, MD, July 26 – Author, entrepreneur, and veteran Wes Moore has won a hotly contested primary campaign to become the Democratic Party’s nominee for Maryland’s next Governor. At the same time, House of Delegates member Dan Cox won the Republican Party’s nomination. Cox will face Moore this fall in a closely watched gubernatorial election.

Moore is one of seven Democratic candidates who responded to RespectAbility’s Disability Voter Questionnaire for Senate and gubernatorial candidates. His responses outlined his vision of why he should be the candidate to follow up Larry Hogan’s tenure as Governor of the Old Line State. At same time, while RespectAbility has reached out multiple times to their staff, only one Republican candidate in the race responded to the nonpartisan questionnaire.

Sivalingam Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in New Hampshire Senate Race

Tejasinha Sivalingam selfie in front of a mountain

Sivalingam Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in New Hampshire Senate Race

Published by Eric Ascher on June 30, 2022

Concord, NH, June 30 – New Hampshire Republican Senate candidate Tejasinha Sivalingam has responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

One-in-five Americans has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. It is also the only one that, due to accident, aging or illness, anyone can join at any time. Indeed, there are more than 183,112 people living with some form of disability in New Hampshire and their votes could be crucial in deciding who will represent them in the United States Senate.

Sivalingam is the second candidate in the upcoming New Hampshire Senate race to respond to RespectAbility’s candidate questionnaire. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes. RespectAbility has reached out to key Senate and gubernatorial campaigns on both sides of the aisle and will be posting all responses on The RespectAbility Report.

Los Angeles Mayor’s Race Advances to November Runoff – What Voters with Disabilities Need to Know

Los Angeles Mayor’s Race Advances to November Runoff – What Voters with Disabilities Need to Know

Published by Philip Pauli on June 8, 2022

Los Angeles, CA, June 8 – The race to replace Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti will continue this fall, with Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) facing off against billionaire real estate mogul Rick Caruso in a November runoff election. Despite weeks of hard campaigning, neither candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote. This means that Angelenos will have one final chance to choose their next mayor on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

“Los Angeles faces a major turning point when it comes to picking their next mayor,” said Nelly Nieblas, RespectAbility’s Los Angeles-based State and Federal Policy Associate. “Both candidates need to lay out a clear vision for what they would do to earn the votes of the 1 million Angelenos living with a disability.”

The Los Angeles Mayor’s race garnered national attention and featured a crowded field of diverse candidates, each pitching their vision for the future. Over the past several months, RespectAbility has actively engaged with the different mayoral campaigns to educate them about the key issues facing Angelenos with disabilities.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Maryland

Published by Elizabeth Pezone on May 31, 2022

Key actions and positions posted on the intersection of disability, education, jobs, and more

Annapolis, MD, May 31 – Ahead of the upcoming primary election, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Maryland Voter Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are approximately 694,317 people living in Maryland with some form of disability. The disability community makes up 11.6 percent of the state’s population.

Nationwide, one-in-five Americans has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. It is also the only one that, due to accident, aging or illness, anyone can join at any time.

RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates the same key questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to the questionnaire. Below, you can read responses from candidates on the ballot in Maryland who have already taken the time to address the concerns of voters with disabilities.

King Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in Maryland Governor’s Race

Published by Eric Ascher on May 31, 2022

Key actions and positions posted on the intersection of disability, education, jobs, immigration, climate, criminal justice and more.

Annapolis, MD, May 31 – Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Secretary of Education John King responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

One-in-five Americans has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. It is also the only one that, due to accident, aging or illness, anyone can join at any time. Indeed, there are more than 669,000 people living with some form of disability in Maryland and their votes could be crucial in deciding who succeeds Larry Hogan as Governor of the Old Line State.

King is the seventh candidate in the upcoming Democratic primary to respond to RespectAbility’s candidate questionnaire. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes. RespectAbility is actively communicating with all candidates in Maryland’s upcoming gubernatorial race.

Fetterman Completes Disability Candidate Questionnaire in Pennsylvania Senate Race

Published by Eric Ascher on May 10, 2022

Harrisburg, PA, May 10 – Democratic Senate candidate and current Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania John Fetterman has responded to a detailed candidate questionnaire on disability issues. The questionnaire is from RespectAbility, a nonpartisan nonprofit disability organization that does not endorse candidates. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes.

One-in-five Americans has a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. People with disabilities are America’s largest minority group. It is also the only one that, due to accident, aging or illness, anyone can join at any time. Indeed, there are more than 1.8 million people living with some form of disability in Pennsylvania and their votes could be crucial in deciding who will represent them in the United States Senate.

Fetterman is the second candidate in the upcoming Pennsylvania Senate race to respond to RespectAbility’s candidate questionnaire. The questionnaire is purely for educational purposes. RespectAbility has reached out to key Senate and gubernatorial campaigns on both sides of the aisle and will be posting all responses on The RespectAbility Report.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: New Hampshire

Published by Philip Pauli on May 3, 2022

Concord, NH, May 3 – Ahead of the upcoming primary, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest New Hampshire Voter Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are approximately 183,000 people living in the Granite State with some form of disability. The disability community makes up 13.4 percent of the state’s population.

RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates the same key questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to the questionnaire. Below you can read responses from candidates on the ballot in New Hamsphire who have already taken the time to address the concerns of voters with disabilities.

RespectAbility Disability Voters’ Guide: Pennsylvania

Published by Shereen Ali on May 3, 2022

Harrisburg, PA, May 3 – Ahead of the upcoming primary election, the nonpartisan disability rights nonprofit RespectAbility has released its latest Pennsylvania Disability Voter Guide. According to the 2021 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium, there are approximately 1.8 million people living in Pennsylvania with some form of disability. The disability community makes up 14.5 percent of the state’s population.

RespectAbility has asked Democratic and Republican candidates the same key questions about issues affecting people with disabilities, including employment, education, and accessibility. RespectAbility has sent multiple emails and placed many phone calls to the campaigns in order to solicit responses to the questionnaire. Below you can read responses from candidates on the ballot in Pennsylvania who have already taken the time to address the concerns of voters with disabilities.