2022 State of Voters with Disabilities Survey

Easterseals partnered with AARP and Pathfinder Research to bring greater awareness to the millions of people with disabilities – including those over 50 years old – as a key voting bloc and important constituency across our country. Together, we want to make certain people with disabilities know their voting rights, including when, where, and how to vote. The disability community is a powerful force that will not be silenced this election. You can view the full summary of this study here (PDF). 

The survey shows that:

• Voters with disabilities are highly motivated. Nine-in-ten Americans with disabilities over 50 are planning to vote.
• A majority indicate they rely on early voting methods and nearly half of voters with disabilities require specific accommodations in order to vote.
• The nation’s largest, most diverse group of voters, are concerned about laws negatively impacting their ability to vote.
• There is strong bipartisan support for reform that would make it easier for voters with disabilities and those 50+ to vote.

Additionally, pocketbook issues reflect the low employment, high rates of government assistance, and limited financial means for the majority of Americans with disabilities, with addressing inflation and strengthening Social Security among the top concerns for all voters with disabilities and the 50+ sample.

The survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of people with disabilities, and an oversample of adults 50+ with disabilities, from August 23-29, 2022, by Pathfinder Opinion Research. .

Key Findings

High Electoral Engagement

More than nine-in-ten Americans with disabilities over 50 are registered to vote and will likely vote in the 2022 midterm election. Combined with 2020 U.S. Census estimates for this population, the survey results show there are an estimated 33 million registered voters with disabilities with nearly 30 million planning to vote in the 2022 U.S. midterm election.

Reliance on Voting Method Options

Most voters with disabilities indicated they rely on early voting methods to participate in elections. Easterseals’ partner AARP has developed a localized tool to help you plan your vote – check it out!

Less than half of all voters with disabilities (47%) and only 39% of those with disabilities 50+ will vote in person on Election Day.

Accommodations Needed to Vote

A significant percentage of adults living with disabilities say they require specific accommodations in order to vote. 43% require at least one accommodation in order to vote.

Bipartisan Support to Make it Easier for Americans with Disabilities to Vote

62% of Americans with disabilities are concerned that changes to voting laws could have a negative impact on their ability to vote. There is broad bipartisan support for policy reforms to make it easier to vote.

Top Concerns: Pocketbook Issues

Addressing inflation and strengthening Social Security and Medicare comprise the top tier of issue concerns for adults with disabilities.

Voters with Disabilities Utilize Government Programs

The overwhelming majority, 90 percent, of Americans with disabilities 50+ receive some type of government assistance (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SSI or SSDI).

The 2022 survey builds upon the findings from our first Easterseals State of Voters with Disabilities Survey in 2020 (PDF), and further amplifies the current views, pressing issues, voting experiences and overall critical relevance of voters with disabilities amid an important election for our country and the disability community.