Vicki McGahee PAVA Coordinator
Dec 14, 2015
Vicki McGaheePAVA Coordinator
Polling Place Accessibility Survey
Data collection
Survey results
Post survey
Basic accessible features needed by voters with disabilities:
◦ Parking◦ Entrance to the polling place◦ Voting area◦ Curbside voting◦ Availability of assistance◦ Accessible ballots
A non-partisan coalition dedicated to increasing the numbers of people with disabilities who vote through voter education and improved access to the voting process
More than 36 member organizations Chaired by P&A
◦ AARP◦ League of Women Voters◦ SC Association of the Deaf◦ SC Autism Society◦ The ARC of SC◦ National Alliance on Mental Illness◦ Office of the Governor – DD Council◦ United Way ◦ Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging◦ SC Special Olympics ◦ Statewide Independent Living Council◦ USC Center for Disability Resources◦ SC Assistive Technology Program
SC DisAbility Voting Coalition
United Way
P&A’s website - Pandasc.org
Surveymonkey
296 surveys completed
23 (50%) of the 46 counties
53 (18%) were completed by voters with disabilities
76% - Accessible parking spaces with visible signs
15% - No accessible parking spaces
25% - No accessible parking spaces for vans 20% - Accessible parking spaces not on the
shortest route
37% - No sign
44% - Not monitored
82 - No sign at polling place and one was needed
22 - Doorways were not wide enough
11% - No clear and level route of travel
13% - Ramp was not stable, was too steep, and did not have handrails
32% - No place to rest
22% - No information at eye level
12% - Path of travel not free from barriers
12% - Area not arranged for easy movement
9% - Voting area not clear
Access to assistance
Access to accessible formats
Poll workers have the training needed to work effectively with all voters, especially people with disabilities.
Polling places are accessible to all voters – from the parking lot to the voting machines.
Curbside voting is implemented consistently at all precincts and poll workers are provided needed training on the implementation.
Every precinct has the required number of poll workers to assist all voters.
Released P&A report – 12/10/12
Meetings with SC Election Commission
SC DisAbility Voting Coalition ◦ Curbside Voting◦ Early Voting
Vicki McGahee PAVA Coordinator 3710 Landmark Drive, Suite 208 Columbia, SC 29204 803-217-6702 (office) 866-275-7273 (toll-free) 866-232-4525 (TTY) [email protected]