State polling places seen lacking
Accessibility tough for disabled voters
Sixty percent of the state's 1,488 polling places did not meet accessibility regulations for disabled voters, according to a survey released yesterday by the Massachusetts Office on Disability.
Only 67 of 351 Massachusetts cities and towns had fully accessible polling places complying with the state law designed to ensure that elderly and disabled voters can reach the polls without impediment.
More than half of the noncomplying precincts did not have appropriately designated parking spaces, with the correct sign and an accessible aisle. Just under a third did not have a level surface at the entrance.
"When we go to vote, it's a fundamental right as an American," said Myra Berloff, director of the state disability office. "What may seem like a minor problem to someone who doesn't need that feature can become an insurmountable problem to someone who does."
The Massachusetts Office on Disability sent a letter to each city and town detailing accessibility problems. Several municipal officials said they had taken steps to comply with state law. The survey was conducted during the past eight months, and results were reported to local officials within 10 days of the review of their precincts.
At the time of the survey, 151 of Boston's 178 polling places were found to have at least one feature out of compliance with the state accessibility law. All 12 of Weymouth's polling areas were out of compliance as were 15 of 16 in Lynn, 14 of 15 in Taunton, and 10 of 11 in Westfield, according to the survey. More than half of Massachusetts municipalities had no polling places in compliance, although in many cases there was just one precinct in town.
"The Elections Department has been working with the Office on Disability to correct these problems as soon as possible," said Seth Gitell, spokesman for Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino. "We're confident that, by working together, the majority of these problems will be addressed by the election."
Clerks and election officials said that many of the changes were minor.
"We never had any problem with anybody complaining that we know of, but we certainly wanted to comply," Weymouth Town Clerk Frank Fryer said.
The next time Massachusetts voters go to the poll is for the Sept. 14 primaries. The general election is Nov. 2.
Christine Griffin, executive director of the Disability Law Center, said there is nothing more frustrating than making the effort to go vote -- a right that many citizens don't exercise -- only to find the door too narrow or the ballot box too high.
"It's a big slap in the face," said Griffin, who uses a wheelchair. "This is a fundamental right that we have as citizens and that we encourage everyone to participate in. What message are we sending to people with disabilities?" 
