WHEREAS, there are over 340,000 adults with disabilities in Maine, making up almost a quarter of the state's population; and

WHEREAS, the disability community has a critical interest in policies and decisions made and enacted at the local, state, and national levels that impact their lives directly; and

WHEREAS, despite federal and state protections in law, people with disabilities can still face barriers to voting, like difficulty finding accurate and current information about an election, lack of accessible parking and entrances at some polling places, and more; and

WHEREAS, ensuring people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote is essential if policies are to meet the real needs of people with disabilities in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Maine consistently has one of the nation’s highest voter participation rates, and all efforts must continue to be made to remove barriers that stand between citizens and the ballot box; and

WHEREAS, members of the national cross-disability community are organizing the 7th annual Disability Voting Rights Week September 9 to 13, 2024, with events around the country;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of September 9-13, 2024 as

Disability Voting Rights Week

throughout the State of Maine and I urge all citizens to recognize the political and civic contributions of people with disabilities in Maine.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty eighth day of August Two Thousand Twenty-Four