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Texans with Disabilities Organize to Increase Voting Participation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 15, 2019

CONTACT:
Molly Broadway, Voting Rights Training Specialist

Disability Rights Texas
512-407-2725
mbroadway@drtx.org

Mark Cundall, Organizer
REV UP Texas
602-818-3752
mcundall8@gmail.com

July 16th Press Conference and Registrar Training To Kick Off National Disability Voter Registration Week in Texas

AUSTIN—Advocacy groups across Texas are teaming up to bring state and national attention to the voting power of the Texas disability community during National Disability Voter Registration Week.

Media and the public are invited to a kick-off press conference on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, at 10:00 am at the offices of Disability Rights Texas located at 2222 West Braker Lane, Austin, TX 78758. Organizations presenting include Travis County Tax Assessor Voter Registrar, REV UP Texas, Disability Rights Texas, and the League of Women Voters.

There will be a Volunteer Deputy Register (VDR) training immediately following the press conference.

The state of Texas has an estimated 2 million registered voters with disabilities. Nationwide, people with disabilities accounted for 35.4 million eligible voters in 2016 according to Rutgers University. With the addition of family members in the same household, that number increases to 62.7 million eligible voters, or 25% of the total electorate.

National Disability Voter Registration Week is a nationwide campaign that aims to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues.

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REV UP Texas is a collaboration of nonprofit organizations and self-advocates working to get more Texans with disabilities registered and voting. Its goal is to see the visibility of the disability vote increase. Visit www.RevUpTexas.org for more information.

Disability Rights Texas (previously named Advocacy Inc.) is the federally designated legal protection and advocacy agency (P&A) for people with disabilities in Texas. Its mission is to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law, ensuring their full and equal participation in society. Visit www.DRTx.org for more information.