voting
! " # $ % " # % & ' % & & ! % ( $ % # $ ) & * + , , , % & ! & . # & . . # ! ! # # . % & ! / % % # $ % " # # . % & # % #
% " #
! " #$ % ! & ' ' #$ % ' ( ( ( ( ) * (
$ + % % ( ( ( , # ( . ( ( ( / 0 % ( (
Forward Voti ng:A Consti tuti onalRi ghtFor Al lCi ti zens VotingAccessfor theElderlyand Disabled
For many years elections professionals and the community of persons with disabilities have struggled with the issue of how best to meet the needs of voters with disabilities within the constraints of our elections processes. This document represents an unprecedented collaboration between the elections and the disability community to address the issue.The National TaskForce on VotingAccessibility, convened by The Election Center, provided a forum for open discussions of successes and failures in meetingthe needs of voters with disabilities. The result of these discussions are an increased awareness of the issues faced by both communities;a dispellingof misperceptions about motives for previous actions or inactions, and a cooperative approach to makingthe future more positive than the past for all concerned. Most importantly, this guidebookto assist local elections officials and a contemporary survey instrument for pollingplace evaluation have been developed out of this collaborative effort.Itis the hope of the TaskForce that these two products will serve as catalysts for meaningful improvement in providingfull accessibility to all of our potential voters.
Preface Goals and Principles
National Task Force on Elections Accessibility This guidebook is prepared by National Task Force on Accessible Elections, initiated by the Election Center. This task Force (Members are listed in AppendixB)met in W ashington in June of 1999to discuss the issue of assuring that persons with disabilities have access to polling places and the ballot. The task fo0rce adopted certain goals and principles (which are listed below)to govern its activities. It is the Task Force’s intent that election officials across the county adopt these principles and use this guide book to accomplish the goal so that every citizen who wants to vote may access their polling place and vote independently if they so choose
Goals: v v v v
Our goal is 100% participation of eligible voters in all elections. Our goal is 100% polling place accessibility for all voters. Our goal is to have all polling sites be accessible for independent voting. Our goal is to provide the opportunity for 100% of the voters to be able to vote secretly and independently.
Principles v Voters with and without disabilities are equally entitled to the right of full participation in elections and to the privilege of casting their votes privately and independently. v No polling place within the United States should be physically inaccessible to voters with disabilities. v As a necessary first step toward ensuring the full accessibility of elections, all voters should have a physically accessible and reasonably proximate polling place by the 2000elections. v Consistent with existing law, all elections-related printed materials released from an elections office to the public in advance of elections should be made accessible to voters with print disabilities in at least one alternative medium with notice and upon request. v A combination of technology and creative problem solving should work together to ensure private and independent access to the electoral process for all voters. Polling methods should be adopted which provide a choice to vote privately and independently through modifications to existing equipment, supplementary procedures used in conjunction with existing equipment or the acquisition of accessible equipment. v Except as provided by state law governing requirements to be a registered voter, no eligible voter should be denied the right to vote solely on the basis of physical or mental disability. v Nationally recognized minimum standards of accessibility are needed to provide guidance to elections officials. v A meaningful enforcement mechanism should be available after a reasonable time is provided to allow for voluntary compliance to ensure accountability and full compliance with provisions of law having an impact on the accessibility of elections. v The National Task Force on Elections Accessibility agrees that elections officials have the right to expect adequate financial and other resources to meet the needs of all the voting public. v The members of the Task Force agree to work collaboratively to obtain support of the elections and disabilities communities to develop strategies for timely implementations of these goals and principles.
2 (
#
2
$
+
#
&
&
* !
1
" %
1
* ) #
1 *
(( 5 - 6 -
( ( - 5 -( ) - ( -( 4
$ - $ - ( ( ;
-( ) - 4 -* ( 5 ) ( 4 )
6 - ( $
( 5 $ (( $
, 5 D $ ( ' 4 ( (( (( (
( 5 - $
!" #!! $ (( (
