DRC Programs
Help America Vote Act (HAVA)
The Help America Vote Act, which was signed into law on October 29, 2002, will overhaul federal elections in the United States through new set of minimum voting standards that each state and territory must follow. The Act also authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide funds to the P&A of each state and territory to ensure full participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities, including registering to vote, casting a vote and accessing polling places.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) contains several provisions that will enable State and local units of government responsible for elections and individuals associated with operating the election process to establish, expand, and improve access to and participation in the election process by individuals with the full range of disabilities. Grant funds are for the purpose of providing services to individuals with disabilities within the State, as well as education and advocacy that ensure the full participation of individuals with disabilities in the electoral process.
Funding for HAVA-related activities is provided through the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD). Click here to review ADD information about this program.
Click here for links to rights protection, advocacy, services, and support resources for persons with disabilities.
Voting is every citizen's right, and the requirements are simple, as explained is this voting flyer. Get registered, go vote!
We have a flyer especially for candidates with our suggestions about "Voluntary Guidelines for Accessible Political Campaigns" [pdf].
DRC Priorities for HAVA in Fiscal Year 2010
- (Goal) DRC will assist people with disabilities to advocate removal of barriers to housing, transportation, places of public accommodation and state and local government in order for them to have equal access under the law.
- Provide intervention services to people with disabilities alleging that architectural barriers prevent them from having equal access to government services, programs and activities.
- (Goal) DRC will inform people with disabilities of their legal rights at trainings conducted by DRC and other organizations.
- Conduct community trainings on the services DRC provides, sensitivity awareness and on specific topics related to DRC priorities as requested by other agencies.
- DRC will conduct trainings on self advocacy and the rights of voters with disabilities.
- DRC will raise issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities at meetings attended by policy makers and/or people with disabilities.
- DRC will serve on the Arkansas Disability Policy Consortium to advise them at their quarterly meetings on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- DRC will convene meetings of ARPie to share information with parent advocacy groups/Parent Training Information Centers about education advocacy issues.
- DRC will serve on the State Board of Election Commissioner's Planning Committee to ensure full participation of voters with disabilities in the voting process.
- DRC will publish and distribute DRC newsletters to people on the DRC mail list, the e-mail list, and will publish each on the DRC website in accessible formats to inform the public on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- Provide the DRC display and materials in conferences to inform the public about DRC activities to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- Timely information will be provided on each DRC program, upcoming events, cases, investigations, legislation, etc.
- An article will be published in the Secretary of State's newsletter regarding Disability Rights Center and the HAVA program.
- DRC will seek funding to air a PSA previously produced by DRC and the Secretary of State's office to inform voters with disabilities of their rights under HAVA.
- DRC will assist Disability Support Services offices across the state to register college students with disabilities to vote.
- DRC will conduct access surveys of polling sites in Saline County during early voting and the regular election day.
- DRC will publish the results of the access surveys on its website.
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