Homeless Voting
NEOCH believes that participation in the democratic process is critical for those struggling with with homelessness, and it takes co-creation and community to make that work happen. NEOCH has been involved in registration activities since 1987. Through litigation and organizing, we have worked for decades to protect access to the ballot box for people experiencing homelessness.
The covid-19 pandemic has created significant changes to the voting process and these changes present real challenges to people experiencing homelessness who don’t have a permanent mailing address. During an election year, it is critical that we mobilize swiftly to ensure that people on the streets and in shelter are registered to vote and are aware of the process to vote-by-mail, or early in-person.
GET OUT THE VOTE 2020
NEOCH has worked alongside our democracy building partners at Cleveland Votes to ensure that people experiencing homelessness have access to the information they need to vote in the upcoming 2020 election. Between August-October 2020, NEOCH hosts weekly “pop up” events at local shelters and hotels being used to de-congregate shelters to ensure that guests are registered to vote and that each person is able to fill out a vote-by-mail ballot application.
Ballots will be mailed to shelter locations in October, and NEOCH will be working with our shelter partners, Cleveland Votes, and Voter Drive Cle to make sure people know how to return their ballot by mail or in person themselves by the November 3rd general election.
why
vote?
1 in 4 people who are eligible to vote are not registered. Less than 50% of eligible voters in families with incomes below $30,000 per year vote, whereas households with incomes above $100,000 have a voting rate of nearly 80% of eligible voters.
Voting is a racial justice issue: Registering and educating people experiencing homelessness about voting and the voting process is a way to reduce this racial disparity
COVID-19 has changed the way homeless services operate, and it will affect the way people vote and register to vote. Having service providers assist in this process is critical.
A vote is a vote: people experiencing homelessness’ voices matter as equally as everyone else’s at the polls.
Providers can engage in voter registration and get out the vote efforts, but this must be done in a non-partisan way and you must assist everyone equally.
Source: National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2020
Voting Pages and Forms
Register to vote or update your Ohio voting address electronically on the Secretary of State website
Every One Votes: Every One Votes is an initiative to ensure that people who are experiencing homelessness are registered to vote and able to exercise their right to vote. Providers can access resources and tools that provide guidance and strategies to support clients and consumers to register to vote, and to encourage voter turnout. DOWNLOAD THE VOTER TOOLKIT.
The Importance of Voting Flyer (may not have the most up-to date information. Please visit https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/ for the latest information).