U.S. Attorney's Office Reaches A Resolution With Baldwin County To Ensure ADA Compliance At Polling Locations

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked cooperatively with the Baldwin County Commission to ensure that, on the upcoming November 8 Election Day, polling precincts throughout the county will be in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

During the primary election on March 1, the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted a compliance review of the county’s forty-six polling locations.  That review identified barriers to access at various locations that needed to be remedied, as required by the ADA.  The county ultimately adopted the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s recommendations and have implemented measures to remediate barriers to access.  One such example is the addition of temporary portable ramps to assist voters who have mobility impairments with entering the polling place.  Assistant United States Attorney Suntrease Williams-Maynard is the U.S. Attorney’s Office point of contact on this project, which is part of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown said, “I commend Baldwin County for their cooperation in working towards adopting our recommendations to meet their ADA obligations. They understand the need to ensure participation in this critical civic duty for people with disabilities.”

The Department of Justice recognizes that voting is one of our nation’s most fundamental rights and is a hallmark of our democracy.  Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to ensure that people with disabilities can access and use their voting facilities. The ADA’s implementing regulations describe what makes a facility accessible, including a polling place.  The Department’s ADA Checklist for Polling Places, which can be accessed from www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm, provides guidance to election officials for determining whether a polling place already has the basic accessibility features needed by most voters with disabilities or can be made accessible using temporary solutions.

People interested in learning more about the requirements of the ADA may visit the website www.ada.gov or call the toll free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY).