Report faults
disabled voting facilities in N.J.
By TOM HESTER JR. AP
from Home News Tribune Online, October 1, 2007
TRENTON, Sept 28 -- Disabled
New Jerseyans face difficulty voting, according to a new report that found only
20 percent of state polling places meet legal requirements for disability
access.
State Public Advocate Ronald Chen, whose office conducted the inquiry, said
sites have problems with ramps, narrow doorways, inaccessible parking and a lack
of signs and aids to help disabled people vote.
"Voting is the foundation of our democracy and a fundamental right of every
American," Chen said.
Chen said too many sites remain inaccessible to the disabled, and government
oversight is failing with the November election less than two months away.
The inspection was completed during the June 5 primary, involving 121 sites in
nine counties. It found:
--20 percent of the inspected sites complied with legal requirements to ensure
people with disabilities can reach the polls.
--59 percent had a physical barrier that impeded access to the polling areas,
such as narrow doorways or steps without a ramp.
--21 percent failed to post required signs, offer accessible parking or meet
other requirements of the federal and state accessibility laws.
Chen said he was alarmed that many sites with problems had passed county-level
inspections.
Jack Mozloom, of the New Jersey Association of Counties, said counties often
face problems with older buildings that have access problems and the cost of
upgrading polling sites.
"It's often a challenge," he said. "They want to comply. I'm sure
that none of the violations are intentional."
About 300,000 of New Jersey's voting-age residents use wheelchairs, canes,
crutches or walkers, Chen said.
Chen said more than 1 million residents are senior citizens who would also
benefit from making polling places easier to enter.
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