Many Voting Locations Not Accessible To Physically Challenged
Only 289 Voting Locations Fully Accessible
POSTED: 6:06 p.m. EST October 29, 2003
UPDATED: 8:09 p.m. EST October 29, 2003
PHILADELPHIA -- Election day is next Tuesday in Philadelphia, and for some people, the privilege of voting is a big frustration.
NBC 10 News took a look at voting locations citywide and found that less than one-quarter of them are fully accessible to the physically challenged -- and the city knows all about the problem.
NBC 10 News' Ray Leight (pictured, left) says there are several obstacles that can challenge the legally disabled and the elderly at roughly 1,400 of the 1,700 voting locations across the city. Hills, steps, uneven sidewalks and the lack of disabled parking are just some of those obstacles.
"This incline isn't really easy to get up, and besides that, these steps here -- I'm not going to be able to vote here," Leight said at one polling place.
Fred Voight is the executive director of the Committee of 70 -- a watchdog organization for the city's election process.
Voight said that at 589 locations, the building itself is accessible, but there is no handicapped parking. Only 289 locations are fully accessible.
According to Voight, the city has tried to make access to polling locations easier but that it is not always possible or financially feasible.
"We have an obligation to try to make sure to extend the voting franchise to as many people as possible, (but we) have to do that in a rational way," Voight said.
Joe Bradley told NBC 10 that he had to be carried up the steps at his designated polling location, and election officials refused to let him change to another location just one block away that was fully accessible, so he has been forced to vote absentee or not at all.
By 2006, a new federal law -- called Help America Vote -- will help eliminate voting locations that are inaccessible to the physically challenged.
Physically challenged voters can get a mail-in ballot, or they can vote at Philadelphia City Hall, which is fully accessible and has ballots for every district.
For a list of polling locations and information on which buildings are handicapped-accessible and provide disabled parking, click here to reach the Committee of 70 Web site.
If you have a story idea about the physically challenged, you can contact Ray Leight at ray.leight@nbc.com.
NBC 10 News' Ray Leight (pictured, left) says there are several obstacles that can challenge the legally disabled and the elderly at roughly 1,400 of the 1,700 voting locations across the city. Hills, steps, uneven sidewalks and the lack of disabled parking are just some of those obstacles.
"This incline isn't really easy to get up, and besides that, these steps here -- I'm not going to be able to vote here," Leight said at one polling place.
Fred Voight is the executive director of the Committee of 70 -- a watchdog organization for the city's election process.
Voight said that at 589 locations, the building itself is accessible, but there is no handicapped parking. Only 289 locations are fully accessible.
According to Voight, the city has tried to make access to polling locations easier but that it is not always possible or financially feasible.
"We have an obligation to try to make sure to extend the voting franchise to as many people as possible, (but we) have to do that in a rational way," Voight said.
Joe Bradley told NBC 10 that he had to be carried up the steps at his designated polling location, and election officials refused to let him change to another location just one block away that was fully accessible, so he has been forced to vote absentee or not at all.
By 2006, a new federal law -- called Help America Vote -- will help eliminate voting locations that are inaccessible to the physically challenged.
Physically challenged voters can get a mail-in ballot, or they can vote at Philadelphia City Hall, which is fully accessible and has ballots for every district.
For a list of polling locations and information on which buildings are handicapped-accessible and provide disabled parking, click here to reach the Committee of 70 Web site.
If you have a story idea about the physically challenged, you can contact Ray Leight at ray.leight@nbc.com.
Copyright 2003 by NBC10.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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