Disability Voting Behavior

by Reid Davenport A poll released Friday said that people with disabilities or those associated with them are actively hitting the voting booths during elections.

by Reid Davenport

A poll released Friday said that people with disabilities or those associated with them are actively hitting the voting booths during elections.

Almost three quarters of the approximate 1000 surveyed said they voted in the 2012 presidential election, with a margin of error of three.

General voter turnout was at 58 percent in 2012, while 72 percent of respondents reported voting. The difference is probably artificially inflated because the latter figure relies on self-reporting.

The survey incorporated a mix of disabilities based on predetermined quotas that included conditions related to vision, hearing, cognitive, sensory and physical abilities. Roughly two thirds of those surveyed had a disability or chronic condition, while the other third were family members or caregivers of those with a disability or chronic condition.

A coalition of more than 40 disability organizations, called the Youth Transitions Collaborative, funded the poll.

"The findings should have an impact on a range of debates about issues that affect our community, because smart candidates for office will recognize that voters with disabilities and their families are waiting to support champions from any political party who will fight for us," said Will Swenson, director of political leadership and strategy for United Cerebral Palsy, in an email. UCP was one of the leading organizations involved in the poll.

Of those surveyed, 30 percent identified as Democrat and 23 percent identified as Republican, similar to the makeup of the general population, which is split 31 and 26 percent respectively.

Eighty four percent of respondents said a candidate's record on supporting services and programs for people with disabilities is somewhat or very important and 87 percent said they would consider voting against a candidate they otherwise supported who was in favor of cuts to services.

"This poll shows that people with disabilities and their families are politically diverse in terms of which party they identify with, but they are united across party lines when it comes to protecting services and supports for people with disabilities," Swenson said.

The poll also showed that economy and healthcare were the top issues for both the respondents and the general population.