REV UP/AAPD Meeting About the Importance of NJ's Gubernatorial Race

On May 1st, about 20 people assembled for the spring 2017 REV UP NJ meeting about the upcoming gubernatorial race. REV UP NJ, established by ACI, is part of REV UP, a national effort to engage people with disabilities in the election process and to increase the voting turnout of people with disabilities. Zach Baldwin, Outreach Coordinator at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in Washington, led the discussion. "2017 is a crucial election year for NJ voters, especially those with disabilities," Baldwin explained.

If you would like to join REV UP or become part of our efforts, please contact ACI.

Disability Voter Registration Day

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As part of our Disability Voter Registration Day, ACI and REV UP NJ recently conducted a workshop on voter rights to participants at the Mount Bethel Village Day Program in Warren, Somerset County. 50 individuals learned about the process of voting, their rights as voters with disabilities and the 2016 presidential election. REV UP NJ voting t-shirts and buttons were given out as a reminder of the importance of the disability vote!

Voting education and registration activities of REV UP NJ and ACI are strictly non-partisan and are made possible through a grant from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities.

REV UP Prepares for National Voter Registration Day

On September 8th, the REV UP voting campaign held a National Organizing Call in preparation for the upcoming National Voter Registration Day. You can access a recording of the call by clicking here.

Bob Kafka from REV UP Texas and Carole Tonks from REV UP New Jersey gave some great examples of how they are organizing in their states. They also shared some other ideas and resources for participating in National Voter Registration Day on September 27th.

For more info on National Voter Registration Day, please visit: nationalvoterregistrationday.org

The 2016 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire

The American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Council on Independent Living, and the REV UP Campaign are pleased to release the 2016 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire below. These questions have been sent to all of the current presidential candidates. Their responses will be shared publicly once received.

Help us encourage all of the campaigns to complete the 2016 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire! Details can be found at: http://www.aapd.com/our-focus/voting/2016-election/presidential-candidate-questionnaire

REV UP NJ Kicks Off Series of Disability Voting Workshops

Over 30 people participated in a workshop on the upcoming election and voting rights at the ARC of Middlesex's Raritan Career Center. This is the first of a series of voting rights education workshops ACI will be conducting during the fall through a grant from the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities. ACI formed a NJ chapter of REV UP, which is a national effort to increase the participation of people with disabilities in the election process.

Get Educated and Registered for the 2016 Election!

The following NJ Centers for Independent Living/REV UP NJ will be holding Voter Education/Registration events.

• Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) - September 14th - Voter Registration Day, 629 Amboy Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837. 732.738.4388 or ctonks@adacil.org. Register to vote and get a free REV UP NJ t-shirt: adacil.org

• Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) - September 2nd - Voting Rights/Registration- The Arc of Middlesex County, Raritan Center, Edison NJ, 732.738.4388, ctonks@adacil.org, adacil.org

• Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) - September 6th - Voting Rights/Registration- Edison Workshop, Edison, NJ, 732.738.4388, ctonks@adacil.org, adacil.org

• Resources for Independent Living (RIL) - Voter Education/Registration, October 11th - 1:30 to 3:30 PM, 351 High Street, Suite 103, Burlington, NJ, 609.747.7745

• Center for Independent Living-SJ - Voter Registration- August 26th, 10am to 3:30 pm. - 1150 Delsea Drive, Suite 1, Westville, NJ 08093, 856.853.6490. Free water ice if you register to vote!

• Heightened Independence & Progress - (Heightened Independence Project) September 10th, Voter Registration, 35 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ (outside of the HIP building) 201.533.4407

• MOCEANS Center for Independent Living - 279 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740- Voter Registration/Education Workshop coming in September - 732.571.4884

• Progressive Center for Independent Living - Voter Registration/Education Workshop coming in September - 3525 Quakerbridge Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619, 609.581.4500

• Heightened Independence & Progress/Bergen - Voter Registration Workshop - Date to be announced. 131 Main Street, Suite 120, Hackensack, NJ 07601, 201.996.9100

• Camden City Independent Living Center - Voter Registration events in September and October. Virtua Campus, 1000 Atlantic Avenue, Camden, NJ 08104. For information, please call 856.966.0800 or email vedasmithccilc@aol.com

• DIAL, Inc. - Voter Education/Registration Workshop coming in September. 2 Prospect Village Plaza, First Floor, Clifton, NJ 07013, 973.470.8090