SALT LAKE CITY – Without resorting to litigation, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has quietly settled a dispute with the state of Utah over registering disabled voters.
Following a recent exchange of correspondence with DNC chair Ken Martin, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson has agreed to correct a violation of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) to break down barriers for Utahns with disabilities to register to vote.
“This decision by the state of Utah is a win for Utahns with disabilities and for our democracy,” according to Martin.
Under that agreement, disability service offices on university campuses in Utah and transit service offices for people with disabilities will now provide voter registration opportunities in compliance with the NVRA.
DNC officials emphasize that bringing states into compliance with federal election law is the type of work that has traditionally been accomplished by the U.S. Department of Justice.
With the DOJ being influenced by President Donald Trump to prioritize a federal takeover of state elections under the SAVE America Act proposed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), however, they say that the national Democratic organization is stepping up to defend the rights of voters across the country.
On a national level, 20.5 percent of undergraduates and 10.7 percent of graduate students report have some form of disability, according to a recent report from the National Center for Educational Statistics.
Those disabilities include higher education students with hearing, vision or learning issues; physical, mental or emotional concerns; or mobility limitations.
Here in Utah, that statistic translates to more than 40,000 of the state’s more than 200,000 university students coping with some form of physical, mental or emotional impairment.
Those students will now have the opportunity to register to vote while they’re applying or reapplying for disability services at Utah public institutions of higher learning, thanks to the intervention of the DNC.
A similar benefit for voting registration will be available for Utahns who utilize the state’s para-transit service.
“As a result of these efforts,” Martin emphasizes, “individuals with disabilities will have an easier time registering to vote.
“We thank the state of Utah for correcting this longstanding violation of federal law.”