Moorhead Young Voters With Disabilities Prepare For First Election Day – InForum

MOORHEAD — Young voters with disabilities gathered Monday, Sept. 12, to prepare for the upcoming election. Many participants will be voting for the first time when they cast their ballots in November.

About 25 people attended the educational event hosted by The Arc Minnesota in honor of Disability Voting Rights Week.

A representative from the League of Women Voters gave these new voters and others all the information they need to get to the polls this November.

Moorhead resident Mitchell Cragg, 19, was one of the first people to register to vote once the rollout ended.

“I’m ready” for the November election, he told The Forum, adding that he feels “good” about getting ready to vote.

It’s important for people with disabilities to stand up for themselves, he said.

“I like to say what I like,” he said.

In the years to come, Cragg plans to encourage his two younger brothers to vote as well.

Not everyone was so excited before the event started.

Addie Loerzel, 18, just started her first year of college at North Dakota State University.

Over the years, she’s done everything from testify before state lawmakers to handing out essential supplies to people down on their luck, but still, the first word that came to the teenager’s mind when she thought about voting first her vote in November was “scared.”

“I’m scared because I don’t know what voting is like,” she told The Forum before the presentation.

Loerzel has no idea what to expect when she heads to the voting booth in November.

“I don’t know what to do if I go back to a polling place and what if it’s not accessible?” she said. “What shall I do then? That’s what has haunted me all my life, is accessibility.”

However, she encouraged other young people to get over their fear and give voting a try to ensure their needs are met by MPs.

Loerzel, a lifelong Moorhead resident, has been advocating for herself since she was born, she said.

It is important that the seats are accessible so that people with disabilities can navigate freely and independently, she said.

“Voting is important because I want people to hear our voices,” Loerzel said.

If Americans with disabilities voted at the same rate as people without disabilities, there would be more than 2 million additional ballots cast in November, said Bailey Stickney, a board member of the League of Women Voters.

As a disabled person and involved poll worker, Stickney urged attendees Monday to get out and vote this year.

“We want everyone who is eligible to vote, to vote,” she said. “We want your voice to be heard. We want you to be counted.”

There are many legal protections in place to ensure that everyone can cast an independent and private vote in an accessible way, she said.

Clay County has an OmniBallot voting machine at every polling place, she said, which allows people to fill out their electronic ballot, print it and drop it in the box if they don’t want or can’t use a pen traditional and paper ballot.

These machines are equipped with headphones to hear the ballot read aloud and with braille labels, she said, and can also change the font for easier reading.

Every poll worker is required to assist voters if they want to use this machine, but they don’t know how, Stickney said.

It’s important to note that voters are allowed to bring a person to the polls if they choose, she said, and that dependents are legally allowed to vote.

Replacement ballots are available if voters make a mistake while filling them out, Stickney said.

In addition, voters are allowed to either verbally agree when asked to sign or authorize someone to sign for them, she said, adding that if people have questions about this practice at the polls, they should asked the chief electoral officer.

Anyone who feels their voting rights have been violated in any way should contact the Clay County Elections Office immediately, she said, noting that people can call the polling place on Election Day and expect an immediate response. That office is available at 218-299-5006 or by email at [email protected].

Voting in person on Election Day isn’t the only option, she noted.

People can also request a postal ballot, vote early in person, have an agent deliver or use the onboard voting service. Those who want more information about these voting options can visit www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/other-ways-to-vote/.

Stickney recalled how “overwhelmed” she was when she was 18 and cast her first vote. The transition to adulthood comes with many new responsibilities and challenges, and many young people don’t have time to figure out who they want to vote for in all the different races on the ballot.

Those looking for more information on how to vote and local candidates should visit vote411.org, she said.

In addition, the American Association of Persons with Disabilities has created comprehensive voting guides for each state, including Minnesota, which are accessible for free on their website at aapd.com/voter-info.

Arc Minnesota plans to host a similar meeting on Sept. 18 to take a closer look at the ballot and explore the use of online tools to make election decisions, and an Oct. 2 meeting where attendees will meet with an elected official. Those looking for more information about upcoming events can follow The Arc Minnesota on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thearcminnesota.