So what is the Vote! project all about? The Vote! project was started in order to teach people with developmental disabilities about what voting is, how to vote and how they can get help with voting. During the first year, we gave 33 presentations
to Shasta County and Tehama County Day Programs, People First meetings, Area II Board meetings and conferences, and even the Circle of Champions luncheon. In this first presentation, we talked about the history of voting, what issues are important to people with disabilities, who can vote, how to vote, and what to do if a person needs help with voting. Then at the end of the presentation, we had a question and answer time where we discussed as a group the answers to questions people asked. We also asked who in the group was already registered to vote and who wanted to get registered to vote, and many people became registered voters!
Now this year, because of the presidential election in November, we are scheduling follow-up presentations to give to the Shasta County and Tehama County Day Programs and People First meetings to refresh their understanding of voting. In two weeks, on September 20th, we will be hosting a voting fair that will have booths for the candidates who are running for the different offices along with several skits and presentations. When it comes closer to the time of the fair, we will post more information about the fair. We will also be going to the Supportive Life Conference that is being held in Sacramento again this October. Plans are being made to host a discussion group in October as well, so that people can come together to learn more about the candidates and the issues that will be voted on in November.
