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Restored voting rights sought for California disabled people

This undated photo provided by William Herron, shows Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik, left, and her fiance, David Rector, who is seeking to have his voting rights restored five years after a judge ruled that a traumatic brain injury disqualified him from casting a ballot in San Diego. As the November election neared, it looked like Rector would once again be unable to vote. Then the 66-year-old former National Public Radio producer learned about a California law that took effect Jan. 1, that makes it easier for people with developmental disabilities to keep and regain the right to vote, if they can express a desire to vote. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Rector will seek to have his voting rights restored and advocates representing him and others who have been disqualified will file a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department asking that the state be required to notify them of the new law in time for the Nov. 8 ballot. (William Herron via AP) This undated photo provided by William Herron, shows Rosalind Alexander-Kasparik, left, and her fiance, David Rector, who is seeking to have his voting rights restored five years after a judge ruled that a traumatic brain injury disqualified him from casting a ballot in San Diego. As the November election neared, it looked like Rector would once again be unable to vote. Then the 66-year-old former National Public Radio producer learned about a California law that took effect Jan. 1, that makes it easier for people with developmental disabilities to keep and regain the right to vote, if they can express a desire to vote. On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Rector will seek to have his voting rights restored and advocates representing him and others who have been disqualified will file a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department asking that the state be required to notify them of the new law in time for the Nov. 8 ballot. (William Herron via AP)

By Associated Press August 23, 2016 1 min read

SAN DIEGO (AP) – An advocacy group is seeking to have voting rights restored in California for people with developmental disabilities.

The Spectrum Institute plans to file a complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Justice Department asking that California be required to notify people with disabilities of a new California law that makes it easier to keep and regain the right to vote. They want people be notified in time for the November election.

The group is acting on behalf of David Rector, a 66-year-old San Diego man and former producer at NPR who was stripped of the right to vote in 2011 after a brain injury left him unable to use his arms and legs and unable to speak.

Supporters of these limits say restrictions are in place to protect against voter fraud.