Officials working to make polls accessible

By Judy Shipley   Brown County Democrat   19 April 2005

Local officials are making sure the county?s 12 polling sites meet state standards.

Through the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), the county has received $44,000 through grant money to purchase machines for its voters with disabilities. The machines will allow people with hearing, sight or physical disabilities to make voting marks by pushing a button. They also come with an earphone that explains ballot choices in a step-by-step process that shows the voter their votes after each ion and then leads the voter to their next choice.

All HAVA mandates must be in place by January 1, 2006, and are being funded by federal and state tax dollars.

In addition to the new voting machines, county officials will be seeking additional money to make sure each polling location meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The improvements will be made based on surveys performed on Primary Election Day 2004 by a group of surveyors from the Governor?s Planning Council for People with Disabilities.

County Clerk Benita Fox says she?s most concerned with two polling locations: Jackson 4 at the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department and Washington 4 at Ski World on State Road 46 West, saying they are in the ?60 percent range? of being ADA compliant.

According to a report by Joe McClain, HAVA administrator, Brown County?s surveys showed that Washington 4 has 13 areas that need improvement ? from incorrect door handles to not having accessible parking spots closest to the building. Jackson 4 lists 19 areas that need to be fixed, such as parking spaces that are not on level ground to inadequate space for wheelchairs.

In addition to those two precincts, eight fall in the 100 to 90 percent range of being compliant, and two show 89 to 80 percent compliance.

By January 1, 2006, every polling location must be 100 percent accessible.