Broadway Actress Speaks at Forum on Voting Rights Forum

Westchester County, NY – October 16, 2024 – Jenna Bainbridge, a wheelchair user who is starring in the new Broadway musical Suffs, spoke to people with disabilities at the Westchester County Center urging them to make their voices heard at the polls.

“I think it is incredibly important for every single human to vote. There have been elections that have been won by a margin of 10 votes, so every single vote really does matter. For people with disabilities, in particular, we are the largest marginalized group. Somewhere between 20 and 25 percent of the population has a disability. That is a huge amount of people, so we really do matter.’’

Bainbridge was the keynote speaker at an event sponsored by Westchester Disabled on the Move and the League of Women Voters of Westchester County.

With 10 days before early voting starts in Westchester County, the advocacy group wanted to make sure that people with disabilities were aware of their voting options.

In addition to hearing from speakers, the more than 50 people who attended the event received a demonstration from The Westchester County Board of Elections on voting machines designed to serve those with hearing, sight, and other disabilities that prevent them from using regular voting machines.

Maria Samuels, Executive Director of Westchester Disabled On the Move Inc., said it was fitting that Bainbridge a wheelchair user who is in a Broadway production on voting rights is the spokesperson for the event.

“It’s important for people with disabilities to have all the information they need about registering to vote and the voting process in 2024,” said Samuels. “We want them to feel empowered to vote, so that they can support political candidates who will best represent them.’’

At 16 months, Jenna broke her spine and became partially paralyzed from the waist down. In 2024 she became the first wheelchair user to perform in a new musical on Broadway when she made her debut in Suffs, which won the 2024 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Music.

Susan Schwarz, a director of the Executive Committee of the League of Women Voters of Westchester County, said, “The League of Women Voters actively supports the rights of all to participate in public life through education, activism and litigation and is especially pleased to support WDOM's outreach during this election season.”

Also attending the program were elected officials Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins; NYS Senator Shelly Mayer, NYS Assemblyman Chris Burdick; White Plains Councilman Jeremiah Frei-Pearson and Westchester Board of Election Commissioner Tajian Nelson and Acting Deputy Commissioner Debbie Gerace.

About Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc.

Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., established 1984, is a not-for-profit community-based organization. WDOM is part of a national network of Independent Living Centers dedicated to independence and equal rights for individuals with disabilities. Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., is staffed and governed primarily by people with disabilities. The programs and services of WDOM are free to consumers with disabilities and their families. WDOM does not discriminate based on age, sex, disability, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., receives funding from the New York State Education Department. Additional funding comes from private individuals, companies and foundations that support the independent living philosophy.

Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc., is a Registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

About the League of Women Voters of Westchester County

The League of Women Voters of Westchester is a nonpartisan political organization whose purpose is to promote informed and active participation in government. The League neither supports nor opposes candidates or political parties. The LWV of Westchester is an Inter-League Organization (ILO) that monitors Westchester County governance and the Westchester County Board of Elections. We review issues and actions that impact the County as a whole. Our Board of Directors is comprised of an Executive Committee and the president of each of the nine local Leagues in the County.