Right now, there are efforts happening all over Florida to make sure voters with developmental disabilities can vote and that when their votes are counted — the numbers reflect their real choices.
Across America, 68 million people have developmental disabilities, according to the Unicorn Children’s Foundation, 23 million of them are known voters.
With the midterm election about a month away, candidates want every vote counted. But those with developmental disabilities may have a harder time getting to the polls.
“Now we're seeing that one-in-five individuals are being diagnosed with a developmental and or learning disorder," said Sharon Alexander with the Unicorn Children's Foundation.
According to Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, more than 420-thousand Floridians live with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“Individuals with disabilities tend to represent swing voters," said Alexander.
She says 34-percent of the developmentally disabled on her radar are swing voters, 36-percent are Democrat, 29-percent are Republican.
So how do we make sure their votes are their individual choice?
The American Disabilities Act of 1965 gives disabled voters the opportunity to have someone fill out their ballot on their behalf, preferably someone the voter trusts.
"Through that guardianship process, you’re really looking at whether or not this individual has the capabilities through psychological testing, through interviews, if they have that capability to know what the issues are.," said Alexander. "We do not want undo influence where you have say a family member or someone with nefarious interest coming in and encouraging people to vote on issues that they don’t understand”
Sharon says the issues printed on the ballot need more context- perhaps more explanation- so those with disabilities understand the parts of the ballot and what — and who — their options are.
For those who are eligible to vote, there are options in Palm Beach County.
“If they don’t bring their own person, they’re asking their poll workers, we will have two poll workers and we’ll make sure they're not of the same party who will be there to assist them," said Palm Beach County Supervisor or Election Wendy Sartory-Link.
And if accessibility is an issue, Sartory-Link says their mail-in option is just as safe as coming in person.
ADA compliant machines are available at all polling locations — giving voters access to a more personalized voting experiences, said Sartori-Link.
“Every single issue that is on the ballot, whether or not you know, is a disability issue," said first openly Autistic Florida attorney, Haley Moss.