By Katie Knapp
Council Bluffs, IA – An Iowa group is reaching out to voters with disabilities.
Iowans with Disabilities in Action, or ID ACTION, held a voter education and registration workshop Thursday in Council Bluffs. The workshop was designed to help disabled voters understand the process. Attendees also had the chance to practice voting on a machine that accommodates the disabled.
Rik Shannon is Project Manager of ID ACTION. He says barriers such as transportation or not having enough information keeps disabled voters from casting ballots. He hopes events such as the ID ACTION workshop give those voters the tools they need to make informed decisions on Election Day.
Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro spoke to the 150 attendees. He says disabled voters need to make their views known to candidates. Mauro says participation is much easier for all Iowa voters because there are three ways to vote: in person on November fourth; early via absentee voting; or at a satellite voting location.