Ensuring that citizens can vote with little or no difficulty is fundamental to a democracy, and an important topic in public debates and policy initiatives.

In the 2012 election, the voter turnout rate of people with disabilities was 5.7 percentage points lower than that of people without disabilities. There would be 3 million more voters with disabilities if they voted at the same rate as people without disabilities who are otherwise similar in age and other demographic characteristics.  Employed people with disabilities were just as likely as employed people without disabilities to vote, suggesting that employment helps bring people with disabilities into mainstream political life.  The voter registration rate of people with disabilities was 2.3 percentage points lower than that of people without disabilities. The lower voter turnout is due in part to a lower registration rate among people with disabilities but more to lower turnout among those who are registered.

ID required for voting in North Dakota on Tuesday, June 10

More than one of the following forms of identification may be used!

Acceptable forms of ID – Polling Place Voting

• A Valid North Dakota:
• Driver’s license
• Non-driver’s identification card
• Tribal government issued identification card
• Student identification certificate (provided by ND college or university)
• Long-term care identification certificate (provided by ND facility)

Acceptable forms of ID – Absentee/Mail Voting North Dakota form of identification listed above

• Passport or Military ID – Only for North Dakota residents living outside the United States who do not possess one of the other forms of identification.
• Attester – An applicant without an acceptable form of identification may use an attester. The attester must provide his or her name, North Dakota driver’s license, non-driver’s, or tribal identification number, and sign the absentee/mail ballot application form to attest to the applicant’s North Dakota residency and voting eligibility.

Identification must include the voter’s:

• Name
• Residential
• Address
• Date of Birth

If we want to increase the voice of  people with disabilities and make the political system more representative of American citizens, then it is imperative to get out and vote.