Voting Priorities
The 2005 priorities for the Illinois Voting P&A are as follows:
1. Education: Equip for Equality will provide education and training to people with disabilities, family members, advocates, election officials and others interested in disability voting issues about the legal requirements and rights provided by HAVA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other laws.
2. Materials Development: Equip for Equality will conduct research on state and federal voting issues that impact people with disabilities and develop information sheets and other materials summarizing these issues. Materials will be distributed at trainings, through the intake process, at facilities serving people with disabilities, and will be posted on Equip for Equality's website.
3. Outreach: Equip for Equality will coordinate with people with disabilities, advocacy organizations, the League of Women Voters and other civil organizations, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, and state and local voting authorities in efforts to enhance access to the voting process. Projects will include registration activities; consultation with voting authorities to assure that access improvements, such as ramps, communication devices, etc., are put in place; a help-line for people with questions or problems to contact on Election Day; a possible second accessibility survey of places on election day; and participation in the Illinois Disability Vote Project activities such as voter education meetings to provide a forum for identifying and understanding issues affecting voters with disabilities and emphasizing the importance and power of voting in a democracy.
4. Individual Advocacy: At a minimum, all individuals who contact Equip for Equality will be provided with information and referral to other sources of assistance. For individuals with disabilities who contact Equip for Equality with disability related problems related to voting, Equip for Equality will provide advice, technical assistance, and advocacy other than litigation. Equip for Equality is specifically prohibited from using Voting P&A funding for litigation. In the event that litigation in a voting matter is deemed warranted, Equip for Equality will evaluate using other funds, such as PAIR and PAAT, for voting related litigation.
5. Work with policy makers: Equip for Equality will work with voting officials on the state and local level to assist them in meeting the disability-related requirements and goals of HAVA, the ADA and other laws. This will include serving on several advisory committees set up by the voting authorities, including those directed at the selection of accessible voting equipment required by HAVA by January 1, 2006.
General Case Acceptance Guidelines for all Programs
All cases need to meet the following general case acceptance guidelines: the case has merit; there is a definable client case objective; the client is willing to participate actively and cooperate in the case resolution process, as appropriate; the client would not likely prevail without assistance from Equip for Equality; an unfavorable outcome would have a significant negative impact on the individual or the disability community; and there are few or no appropriate referrals. However, even if a case meets case priorities criteria and general case acceptance guidelines, a case may not be accepted if current caseloads prevent the case from being accepted or there are not sufficient resources to devote to the matter. Finally, at the discretion of the program, an individual may be provided with advocacy services even if the case does not fall within in the above priorities if it enhances Equip for Equality's services to an un-served or under-served population. At a minimum, all individuals will be provided with information and referral to other sources of assistance.
Litigation Guidelines
For a case to be accepted for litigation (representation in court), consideration should also be given to the following criteria:
- The case resolution is likely to benefit other people with disabilities by changing a policy, practice, law or physical environment.
- The case involves a fundamental right under the state or federal Constitution or statute.
- The case is likely to enhance public understanding and support of the rights of people with disabilities.
