Image courtesy of Indiana Disability Rights
The Power of the Vote: Engaging Aging and Disabled Communities in Montana’s Democratic Process
During the weeks leading up to the 2024 general election, Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT) transformed its commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities into a robust campaign for civic engagement across 18 counties in Southeastern and South Central Montana. As a Center for Independent Living (CIL), LIFTT believes in the transformative power of the vote and political engagement to protect the rights of aging and disabled populations. This article explores how we helped these communities understand the importance of participating in the democratic process, emphasizing that every voice matters in our democracy and that voting is the most powerful weapon to safeguard their rights.
Understanding the Landscape
Montana’s vast geography and rural nature present unique challenges for civic engagement, particularly for aging and disabled individuals. These challenges are compounded by barriers such as limited access to transportation, a lack of accessible voting information, and insufficient encouragement to participate in the political process. LIFTT’s 2024 voter outreach campaign aimed to address these obstacles head-on by emphasizing empowerment, accessibility, and education.
Key Observations from 2024
Our efforts revealed several important trends and lessons that informed our approach:
- Message Resonance: Messaging that reminded individuals of their fundamental right to vote and its connection to protecting their access to services and accommodations resonated deeply. Historical references to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the achievements of disability rights movements created a sense of empowerment.
- Outreach Effectiveness: LIFTT’s multimedia campaign reached thousands of individuals through diverse channels. We sent 63,551 emails encouraging the population of our service area to vote, of which 15,878 were opened and read. Additionally, 25% of the recipients clicked to view the advertisement titled “YOUR VOTE COUNTS.” While the email campaign’s performance metrics — an open rate of 24.63%, a click-through rate of 0.30%, and a click-to-open rate of 1.22% — slightly underperformed benchmark averages, this is typical for educational campaigns where the call-to-action emphasizes awareness rather than direct incentives.
Over three weeks, The Billings Gazette also printed and digitally published our advertisements, ensuring the paper’s entire subscriber base saw them. This integration of print and digital outreach significantly amplified our message.
- Barriers Identified: Many individuals expressed concerns about the voting process, particularly around accessibility and transportation. In response, LIFTT provided information on absentee voting and worked to connect individuals with local resources to ensure their voices were heard.
- The Role of the CaPA Grant: The grant enabled LIFTT to expand its outreach efforts significantly. Through direct engagements and targeted campaigns, we reached individuals who might otherwise have been excluded from the political process.
Data-Driven Impact
During the three weeks before the elections, between October and November 2024, LIFTT set 78 voter engagement goals, of which 61 were successfully completed. These achievements included registering voters, educating individuals about their rights, and facilitating access to polling places. For example, we supported individuals in accessing transportation to their polling stations, ensuring they could participate in the democratic process.
The Power of Empowerment
One-on-one conversations revealed that many aging and disabled individuals felt their voices were too small to make a difference. LIFTT’s campaign flipped this narrative by emphasizing that each vote contributes to the collective power needed to influence policies. This approach turned skepticism into action, with individuals expressing newfound confidence in their ability to create change.
Looking Forward
The lessons from LIFTT’s 2024 campaign underscore the importance of targeted, empathetic outreach in engaging aging and disabled populations in the political process. The vote is not just a right but a tool for empowerment and protection. By fostering a culture of participation, we help these communities ensure their voices are heard, their rights are respected, and their needs are addressed in the halls of power.
In a democracy like the United States, every voice matters. At LIFTT, we believe that empowering individuals to exercise their right to vote is one of the most effective ways to protect the rights of the aging and disabled. The success of our 2024 multimedia campaign, which combined print and digital outreach to engage and educate thousands, is a testament to the power of strategic, inclusive engagement.
We look forward to building on this foundation in the years to come.
About Living Independently for Today & Tomorrow (LIFTT): LIFTT is a Montana 501(c)3 corporation organized as a Center for Independent Living (CIL). With team members based in Billings and Glendive, LIFTT provides people with disabilities with programs and services that help empower them to break down the physical, bureaucratic, and cultural barriers that prevent them from being fully independent participants in their lives and communities throughout 18 counties in southeastern and south-central Montana: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Rosebud, Stillwater, Treasure, Wibaux, and Yellowstone. For more information, please visit liftt.org or download our mobile app for your Apple or Android Device.
