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Study Finds More Problems Accommodating Senior Voters
By
Stephen J. Baetge
Staff Writer
Newly-released
results of a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on
voting accessibility for the elderly and disabled has found that
recent changes made as a result of earlier critiques of the system
have increased the ability of polling places to meet the needs of
impaired voters, but it’s simply not enough. The majority are
still not fully accessible.
A study conducted by the GAO during the 2000 elections found that only 16 percent
of polling sites surveyed nationwide were fully accessible to people with disabilities.
A subsequent Rutgers University study indicated that people with disabilities
are nearly 15 percent less likely to vote than those without a disability.
With the rapid aging of America’s population, the number of voters who
may face challenges due to impaired mobility will likely grow, raising concerns
that a lack of accessibility may result in the disenfranchisement of a politically-significant
sector of the voting population — America’s seniors.
In 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002, which requires
that polling places provide at least one voting system that is fully accessible
for those with disabilities.
The GAO sought to determine the extent to which states and localities have taken
the necessary steps to improve accessibility by visiting randomly-selected polling
places across the country on Election Day 2008.
The GAO observed features and voting methods that could impede access and interviewed
polling officials at the locations, which were representative of polling places
nationwide.
“Every American should have access to participate in the democratic process
and the assurance that each vote will be properly counted,” stated Sen.
Mel Martinez, R-Fla., ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. “I
thank the GAO for conducting their study and look forward to reviewing their
findings.”
The resulting report found that, compared to the year 2000, the proportion of
polling places with potential impediments had decreased. However, the GAO estimates
that 73 percent of polling places still have features which might impede access
to the voting area for people with disabilities.
The Government Accountability Office also found that while most polling places
have voting systems to facilitate private and independent voting for people with
disabilities, nearly one-third of those systems still pose challenges. Voters
in wheelchairs were found to be particularly impacted.
“There is no doubt that progress has been made since the last time the
GAO looked at this issue, but with 73 percent of polling places still not fully
accessible, we are a far cry from where we need to be,” proclaimed Sen.
Herb Kohl, D-Wis., chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
The GAO conducted the study at the request of a number of senators following
a hearing held by the Special Committee on Aging immediately prior to Super Tuesday
in 2008. That hearing focused on older voters and the various barriers they face
in exercising their right to vote, covering issues of poll accessibility, voting
within long-term care settings and ongoing concerns that voter identification
laws can disproportionately disenfranchise seniors.
“Even though the number of polling places with potential impediments has
decreased since 2000, we still have a long way to go to ensure people with disabilities
have full access to the ballot box,” affirmed Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa,
member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
“We have to continue to work to make sure every American — regardless
of disability — has the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right
to vote on election day,” Harkin concluded.
Older individuals historically represent a politically-active group, particularly
during primary elections which typically attract a lower level of voter turnout.
The recent GAO report is the first in a series of three that the Government Accountability
Office will release on voting accessibility this year.
The next report is expected in September, and it will provide more detail on
whether voting access at polling places has improved since 2000, identify state
practices to facilitate access and describe the role played by the U.S. Department
of Justice in enforcing voting access under HAVA.
The final report will be released in November, and it will focus on voting practices
for residents in long-term care facilities.
Even without the additional reports, some senators are recommending prompt action.
“The Department of Justice has the jurisdiction to enforce the poll accessibility
laws we have in place, and I look forward to working with them to ensure that
nothing stands in the way of older and disabled voters exercising their right
to vote,” Kohl vowed.
This page and its contents ©2009
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
