WILC v. Westchester County
Board of Elections
In an effort to ensure that
Westchester's 440 polling sites are accessible to people with disabilities come
November, WILC joined with other Westchester disability advocates to file a
lawsuit in federal court against the Westchester County Board of Elections.
Oral arguments were heard June 14th in a courthouse that was packed with
supporters.
The lawsuit alleges that by
approving waivers that excuse localities from making their polling sites
accessible, the Board of Elections has violated Title II provisions of the ADA
which prohibit government entities from denying access to public services,
programs and activities to people with disabilities. Of the 109 Westchester
polling places that have been surveyed by WILC and Westchester Disabled on the
Move, Inc. of Yonkers, nearly 85% had some degree of inaccessibility.
The lawsuit takes on particular
urgency with the presidential election looming on the very near horizon. Each
of this year's presidential candidates recognize the power that people with
disabilities have at the polls if they vote together as a block, and they are
courting our vote. According to a National Organization on Disability
(NOD)/Harris Poll, 41% of voters with disabilities cast a ballot in the 2000
presidential election, up from the typical 30% in past presidential elections.
Voters with disabilities, who comprise 20% of registered voters, played a
significant role in that race. We are becoming a voting block that no
politician can ignore. That's why disability advocates, such as WILC, are doing
everything they can to get out the disability vote in the coming election, by
encouraging voter registration, providing information on issues of concern to
the disability community, and bringing lawsuits, as we have done, to force
government to provide accessible polling places and accessible polling
machines.
Learn
more about the presidential candidates' positions on issues affecting people
with disabilities by visiting these informative websites:
http://www.nod.org/election2004.html
and
www.camradvocacy.org/fastaction/candpositions.asp
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