Registered And Enabled
January 2003

EDITORIAL
Tennessean.com website.

Fundamental rights, such as voting, shouldn't come with obstacles.

But many disabled citizens encounter difficulties when they attempt to vote. Many polling places are not adequately equipped to handle their needs. And among those that are, poll workers often lack the training to fully assist the disabled.

Fortunately, advocates for people with disabilities are working on the problem. The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities has awarded grants of about $45,000 each to the Tennessee Disability Coalition and Tennessee Protection & Advocacy Inc. in an effort to erase problems that discourage the disabled from voting. Those organizations are working with county election commissions to address the problem.

It's more than just the right thing to do. It's the law. The Americans With Disabilities Act demands that local governments make all buildings accessible to the disabled. Nashville has made important strides in that area in recent years, but the city was very slow to get into compliance with the ADA, whether it was related to voting or not.

The specific concern in voting is that many polling places are in old buildings that are not friendly to the disabled. Last year, most of Metro's 158 polling places surveyed were deemed usable for disabled people, but only 16 were fully rated accessible, which means they meet all the requirements of the ADA.

The issue remains a challenge, however, in that poll workers need to know how to help people with various disabilities. Good intentions aren't always enough when specific assistance is needed.

Of all the issues related to voter registration and participation, which is woefully low in this country, it is intolerable that people who are eager to vote find barriers to the process. A nation with a pitifully low rate of voter participation must dedicate itself to tearing down any obstacles to voting. Attending to the needs of those with disabilities is an excellent place to begin.

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