 |
111 Washington Avenue, Suite 101 |
|
| For Immediate Release October 30, 2002 |
For more information contact: Contact: Tim Cronin (518) 458-1600 Dan Vitch (716) 284-2452 (716) 207-1149 |
|
Inaccessibility and obstacles in the voting system in Niagara County will hinder voting by disabled individuals in next Tuesday’s elections, according to Dan Vitch, Statewide System Advocate of the Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living in Niagara Falls.
According to Vitch, individuals with disabilities encounter numerous barriers when attempting to vote at polling sites throughout Niagara County. A recent survey conducted by the center found inaccessibility at numerous sites including the Lewiston Fire Hall #1, Lewiston Village Hall and Niagara Town Hall.
"Voting is more difficult than it should be for many in this population," said Vitch. "To close this gap, individuals with disabilities are demanding more accessible voting systems that will facilitate parity. The new federal election reform law is a start and we need to ensure that these reforms are implemented."
Members of the media are invited to join with Vitch as he surveys polling sites, beginning at the Lewiston Fire Hall #1- 145 North Sixth Street in Lewiston on Election Day (11/5) at 11 a.m.
The existing voting system is especially difficult for blind voters, and members of the media are invited to join a blind Niagara County resident as she attempts to vote at her local polling district.
Shelly Bamrick will be available at her local election the Active Hose at 427 Oliver St. in North Tonawanda on Tuesday (11/5) at 10 a.m. She is available to speak to the media on camera about the difficulties they have encountered when attempting to vote.
New York has 3.6 million people with disabilities, which is 20.6 percent of the population, and 3.3 million are voting-aged. With 1.3 million New Yorkers with disabilities voting in 2000, nearly 2 million New Yorkers with disabilities are eligible but not registered to vote.
- more –
Although the number is shrinking, the Federal Election Commission reports that at least 20,000 polling places across the country are not fully accessible to voters with disabilities. The majority of the country continues to use antiquated voting machines that are especially problematic for disabled and older voters.
Twenty percent of the country, including New York, uses lever machines, which require physical strength and coordination for successful operation, and many of which cannot be operated from a wheelchair.
"The most disability-friendly voting system is computerized voting. This format is currently used in less than ten percent of the country's polling places, but funding from the new federal law could assist in modernization at the polls in New York," Vitch says.
In spite of the difficulties, America's disability community continues to cast ballots in record numbers. A Harris Poll shows that 14 million Americans with disabilities voted in the 2000 Presidential Elections, up dramatically from 11.3 million in 1996. This represents an increase from 30 to 41 percent of voting-aged people with disabilities, but still substantially lower level than that of the entire population, roughly 50 percent.
Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living Polling Site Survey Summary
The Niagara Frontier Center for Independent Living Inc. (NFCIL) survey has identified numerous polling sites in Niagara County that are not accessible to people with disabilities.
Three examples include:
1) Lewiston Fire Hall #1- 145 North Sixth Street Lewiston, NY 14092-The Fire Hall has no signage to designate where the accessible route is. There is an accessible door in the back of the building, but its not marked.
2) Lewiston Village Hall 145 North Forth Street Lewiston NY 14092- There is an elevator to go to the main floor from the Recreation Department entrance of the building. One problem is that there is inadequate lighting & signage once inside the building. The only permanent interior sign, to our knowledge, is on the elevator door itself.
3) Town of Niagara -Town Hall- 7105 Lockport Road Niagara Falls-Although its accessible to get into building, a person using a wheelchair reported having trouble reaching the voting machines.