ACCESS Vote 2000 targets persons with disabilities

By Rose Hooper

It is estimated that there are 60,000 North Carolinians of voting age with disabilities who are not registered to vote. ACCESS Vote 2000 will encourage voter registration and electoral participation among these voters and secure access to polling places.

In Jackson County, Board of Elections Supervisor Lisa Lovedahl-Lehman has personally toured each voting place in the county.

"About 80 percent of them are in compliance now," Lehman said, "and we're working to make each of the polling places accessible by Election Day." The only major problem so far, she said, is the Pine Creek Community Building in the Mountain Precinct. For those who need it, curbside voting will be available there.

The National Voter Registration Act, better known as the "Motor Voter" law, requires that social service providers that receive federal and state funds register clients to vote if those clients would like to do so. ACCESS Vote 2000 will work to insure that public and private service providers comply with this law.

Working in conjunction with the National Organization on Disability, ACCESS Vote 2000 will encourage Get-Out-The-Vote efforts within the disability community.

ACCESS Vote 2000 will work with the N.C. State Board of Elections, local boards of elections and others to insure that all voters can utilize polling places on Election Day. Plans include working to provide tactile and Braille ballots, ensuring adequate accessibility for wheelchair users and educating election officials about accessibility issues.

"Lisa has gone the extra mile in helping to make sure that our polling places are accessible to special populations," said Barbara Davis, executive director of Pathways for the Future, Jackson County's disability advocacy organization.

For more information, call the board of elections at 586-7538 or Pathways at 631-1167.

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