A new survey of likely voters suggests most are touched personally by someone with a disability and that those relationships could affect how they vote in the November election.
In the poll of 1,000 expected voters nationwide, 51 percent said that they have a family member or close friend with a disability. And many indicated that connection could impact their decision in the upcoming presidential election.
Some 41 percent of those surveyed said they’d be more inclined to support a candidate who pledges to make policies and programs helping those with disabilities a national priority.
Only 2 percent of respondents indicated that disability programs should not be a top concern.
“The majority of likely American voters are experiencing the challenges of living with a disability, either because they have a disability or have a loved one who does. It impacts voting, and elected officials need to pay attention,” said Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of the strategic communications group Laszlo Strategies which conducted the survey in early September along with the polling firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.
Voter interest in disability issues does differ by party affiliation, however, according to the research results. Democrats were more likely to say that a candidate’s stance on programs affecting those with special needs would impact their decision at the ballot box.
Meanwhile, while the poll found that voters were largely split on whether or not the government is currently doing enough to assist those with disabilities to “lead a normal life,” Republicans were more likely to say that the status quo is sufficient.
First of all, thank you for this site. I have an eleven year old son with cerebral palsy.
I was curious about the statement, “Republicans were more likely to say that the status quo is sufficient.” Who specifically would make such a statement as a republican or democrat? I was interested to read any specific quotes along those lines.
Thank you,
Annie Stewart
Chattanooga, TN
I am thrilled to see our conversation moving in this direction and am very pulled about my vote.
I can not vote conservative for the big picture but I am very concerned about how the current administration treats us, how Congress looks the other way at DOJ Administrative Rules that, this year, took away grievance rights in ADA Title II and the Supreme Court recognizing Due Process problems in ADA and 504 but won’t step in unless Congress corrects their legislation. Across the board rights are being chipped away, due processes are intentionally blocked, in the States attorneys are being punished for standing up for us. It is as if dems give and taketh away with the same hand.
It feels as if each new generation of politician keeps waiting us out. At some point, we are going to have to go back to the old days and stop the world until someone addresses the issues.
I do feel the President’s new healthcare initiative will create an opening so that the entire country will see what we go through. An expansion of Medicaid, with 39 states not having a HHS complaint process or oversight from CMS, because they feel they have to work with the states who administrate Medicaid, the masses are just not going to put up with what we have.
Very concerned about our future.
Nice headline, but the numbers, not the individual voters, are nothing to get excited about. The lack of press is problematic – and not enough people are willing to get out there and tell extremely nasty and hostile people what the realities are… Trying to concretize cutback proposals I have spent a fair amount of time and effort talking about the direct impact on my family. I’ve been told that I shouldn’t have children, that charities take care of people like “them”… and those are printable responses!
We need to do better than changing a relative’s vote, for heaven’s sake.
I wish Autism had got more attention in this upcoming election. But they never really address it. They just send a representative to a meeting to talk in circle about everything they WILL do …. very sad. I’ve been a conservative republican middle class American all my life and because of Autism and my children’s needs, for the first time, I’m actually considering a party change. The democrates are the only ones who will grant the monies needed for my children’s care after I’m gone. Sigh.
Theresa on the autism subject,
I just thought I’d mention that I noticed Obama specifically mentioned parents of children with autism during the debate last night, and discussed the fact that he would not consider cutting funding to medicaid for example because of the parents of children with disabilities who depend on that for their child’s care. It definitely pleased me to hear him mention that since it was the only mention of disability issues at all last night. I live in fear of medicaid being harmed by Romney’s proposal since my son with severe disabilities just started to benefit from “buy in disability medicaid for children” in my area, which allows for middle class to lower middle class children with disabilities to get medicaid coverage for a very low monthly rate. This is life-changing for us. It was brought about by Obama, and would end if he loses this election. These are the issues that desperately matter to my family most right now, and will certainly impact the way I vote regardless of party!
Obamacare is financially unsustainable. It won’t be long at all before it’s obvious to everyone that not everything needed can be paid for. Seniors, the disabled, and the mentally ill will be the first to be denied care. There is NOT enough money, and never will be enough money to pay for Obamacare. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the lies told by the democrats. The only chance we have to maintain the benefits we or our loved ones need is to put Romney into office. He will repeal Obamacare and get this country going in the right direction. Holy cow! The man gave 20% of his income to charity last year-do you think he is going to let people with disabilities suffer? No way! How much did Obama give to charity? Do your research and you’ll be very surprised to find out who REALLY cares about the American people.
Oh, and Romney’s healthcare program in Massachusetts worked–until he left and others changed it. There will always be those who care more about their political careers than they do about the people they should be representing. But Romney isn’t one of them. Do your research, watch the debates, you’ll see.