EFE Starts Voting Project

In 2004: Statewide Survey of Polling Places, Election Judge Trainings and Recommendations for Improvements to State and Local Boards of Elections

On Illinois Primary Election Day, March 16, voters all over the state traveled to polling places to cast their ballots for president, senators and local offices. For most voters, the rainy weather was the only glitch in their contribution to the democratic process. For those with disabilities, however, the experience was much different.

EFE Attorney Amy F. Peterson measures for accessibility at a Chicago-area polling place

"Joe," a man who uses a wheelchair, had to check ahead of time to determine whether his polling place was designated "accessible," which was confirmed. He traveled to the polling place only to find heavy doors, narrow doorways and stairs to the voting booth. To exercise his right to vote, Joe was compelled to abandon his wheelchair and be carried to a voting booth, which turned out to be too high and afforded him neither privacy nor comfort.

"Sarah," who is blind, voted as she always does - without privacy or independence. In 2004, nearly all voting machines remain inaccessible to the blind.

Joe and Sarah are among the millions of voters with disabilities in this country whose right to vote has been denied or infringed. Voters with developmental disabilities find their right to vote questioned, voters who are deaf face communication barriers, voters with dexterity impairments are unable to manipulate the equipment. Faced with such obstacles, many citizens with disabilities simply do not vote - the voting rate among adults with disabilities lags more than 10 points behind that of other voters. Absentee voting, often referred to as the ghetto for voters with disabilities, is perhaps the most frequently offered recourse. Read the Full Article...

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Spotlight: Voting Rights Project

Equip for Equality's Voting Rights Project was launched last summer, when President and CEO Zena Naiditch accepted a seat on the Illinois State Planning Committee, the HAVA mandated group in charge of developing Illinois' implementation plan.

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