Feds say Alaska is violating the ADA with inaccessible polling places

A motion directs voters to a polling location successful Unalaska successful 2020. (Hope McKenney/KUCB)

The U.S. Department of Justice says nan Alaska Division of Elections is discriminating against voters pinch disabilities.

The national agency sent nan authorities a missive alleging aggregate violations of nan Americans pinch Disabilities Act complete nan past 4 years, astatine polling places and connected nan elections website. 

“We must counsel you that, if we cannot scope a resolution, nan Attorney General whitethorn initiate a suit nether nan ADA,” nan letter, from nan Civil Rights Division of nan Justice Department, says.

It reports that voters person complained astir muddy parking lots, ramps that person a 2-inch measurement to scope and different features that hamper group utilizing wheelchairs. Once successful nan polling place, nan missive says voters recovered that voting machines meant to beryllium accessible were often not working, aliases not assembled. Voters pinch impaired imagination said audio components were unintelligible. That near immoderate pinch nary prime but to ballot a insubstantial ballot pinch nan thief of a canvass worker, compromising nan voter’s privateness and independence. 

The Justice Department included a 32-page spreadsheet listing specifics, specified arsenic parking tons that deficiency designated accessible spots, paths and corridors that are excessively steep and doors that require excessively overmuch unit to open. The polling locations successful nan spreadsheet are chiefly municipality and on nan roadworthy system, from Fairbanks to Homer. Federal investigators recovered 9 alleged violations astatine nan Anchorage office of nan Division of Elections, mostly successful nan parking lot.

Elections Division Director Carol Beecher said her agency strives to find polling places successful each precinct that meet ADA requirements.

“We travel nan ADA checklist for polling places arsenic intimately arsenic possible,” she said successful an email. “Election supervisors personally cheque locations erstwhile feasible, and for much distant areas, metropolis and tribal clerks assistance by filling retired a study of a location.”

Beecher said nan section will reappraisal nan findings and activity pinch nan Justice Department connected a resolution.

The national missive warns that nan U.S. lawyer wide whitethorn record a suit if nan issues aren’t addressed.