Graphic of ACCESS the VOTE NOW! Video Contest.
  • Does Voting play a role in your life?
  • Do you exercise your civil right to vote?
  • Are you aware that the people elected in 2014 may be making important decisions on your behalf about issues like Healthcare, In-Home Support Services and Transportation?
  • Then show off your Civic Pride by making a Get-Out-The-Disability Vote Commercial!
Share your ideas and win some cash doing it…
Photo of a group of people holding up a large banner for disability voting rights.

With 57 Million Americans with disabilities, our community certainly has the potential to be a driving force in American politics. However, our voter turn-out rates range around 40%, compared to other communities with higher turnout rates. We need to increase the disability participation in elections to ensure that our fellow citizens don’t make decisions about us without us!

The purpose of the contest is to showcase the creative ideas why people with disabilities should get out and vote. Many people with disabilities rely on services and programs affected by our elected officials and ballot initiatives to live independently in the community. By sharing your ideas you have the opportunity to motivate and inspire your fellow disability community members and their allies to take a greater role of the voting stage.

The winning Video will receive:

  • 1st Prize $400
  • 2nd Prize $150
  • 3rd Prize $75
Photo of 2 people holding up disability voting signs.

Entries should feature a compelling message for people with disabilities to vote and can include educational material about issues in the national, state or local election debate. Some examples of topics may include standard get out the vote, voter registration or voter education practices, but must demonstrate these practices within federal and state election law and the guidelines set by the California Secretary of State. Guides for proper voter practices may be found at www.sos.ca.gov This may include using accessible voting technology approved by the California Secretary of State, for a list of these devices please visit www.sos.ca.gov. Submissions must be non-partisan and may not include any materials deemed to be “electioneering” or campaigning for any one particular candidate or initiative, slate of candidates or initiatives, or political party platform. The use of candidate or initiative materials such as literature, t-shirts, flyers, posters, yard signs and bumper stickers for candidates or initiatives that will be on the either the California Primary or California General Election ballots in 2014 are prohibited.

Here are Some Important Contest Dates:

  • Thursday May 1, 2014 - Contest Opens
  • Friday August 1, 2014 - Submissions Deadline
  • Tuesday September 2, 2014 - Finalist Online Voting Begins
  • Friday September 19, 2014 - Finalist Online Voting Ends
  • Friday September 19, 2014 - Last Day to Request Final Results by Mail
  • Friday September 26, 2014 - Winners Announced
Photo of 2 people holding up voter signs in foreign languages.

Entries will be screened by a committee of CFILC staff and the DOnetwork’s Advisory Council members. The screening committee may select up to 10 finalists for public voting. CFILC staff and DOnetwork Advisory Committee members and their immediate family are prohibited from participating in this contest.

Finalist’s videos will be posted to the DOnetwork Channel on YouTube and our website at www.DisabilityOrganizing.net. Online voting by the public will determine the winner. The winning video will be featured on the new DOnetwork website.

Contest opens May 1, 2014 and submissions may be sent until August 1, 2014. Public voting will take place in August 2014 and the winners will be announced in early September 2014. The videos of all finalists may be used in the DOnetwork’s Access the Vote Now! ELECTION 2014 Campaign.