Why the article is helpful
- Explored how disabilities were related to attitudes towards political participation
- Citizens with disabilities still remain less likely to vote versus nondisabled citizens
- Despite improvements, many polling places are still not fully accessible
There is between 36 and 54 million people with disabilities living in the United States. The authors explored how disabilities were related to attitudes towards political participation. As results of their study, they found that citizens with disabilities still remain less likely to vote versus nondisabled citizens. Also, disabled citizens had a tendency to favor politicians who are pro-employment and healthcare, along with a disfavor towards government responsiveness and trustworthiness. Despite improvements over the last decade, many polling places are still not fully accessible. Therefore, improvements in education, employment, and social inclusion should also be addressed to increase political participation.
Additional details
3 categories that affect political participation on average:
- Resources
- Psychology
- Recruitment
Disabilities may affect voter turnout in a number of ways:
- Limited resources
- Lower average income
- Lower average education levels
- High medical care cost and special equipment
Links to article