(Washington, DC) - The DC Board of Elections and Ethics is partnering with the DC Office of Disability Rights to increase accessibility of polling places for voters with disabilities in the upcoming primary and general elections.

The DC Office of Disability Rights has worked with the Board of Elections to conduct surveys of polling places, identify barriers that make it more difficult for people with disabilities to vote independently and privately, and develop solutions to improve accessibility.

The Office of Disability Rights is committing $50,000 to help the Board of Elections to purchase ramps and other accessibility elements, repair wheelchair lifts, develop signage, and provide accessible equipment.  The Board of Elections is also moving several polling places to more accessible locations, training pollworkers on accessibility issues, and improving its curbside voting program.  The Board of Elections has also issued a guide to accessible voting services for senior citizens and persons with disabilities

In the September 9 Congressional and Council primary election and the November 4 general election, the Board of Elections will offer wheelchair accessible voting machines, assistance from pollworkers, magnifiers, large print instructions, electronic voting that is accessible to people with vision disabilities, and curbside voting to enable persons with disabilities to vote.

“The Board of Elections and Ethics is committed to making the election process in DC as accessible as possible,” said Sylvia Goldsberry-Adams, Acting Director of the Board of Elections and Ethics, “We are very pleased to be working with the Office of Disability Rights and Inclusion Research Institute to improve accessibility throughout our polling places.”

Eve Hill, Director of the Office of Disability Rights, said, “People with disabilities are an important part of the DC community and their votes are important.  The efforts by the Board of Elections and Ethics will make sure they are able to cast their votes and have their voices heard.”

For more information on voting for persons with disabilities, individuals should go to the Board of Elections and Ethics website at dcboee.org.  For more information on disability rights in the District of Columbia, go to the Office of Disability Rights website at odr.dc.gov.