The U.S. constitution guarantees every citizen age 18 and over the right to vote. Nineteen years after Congress passed the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), voter accessibility issues in Pennsylvania are still widespread.

The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act has required since 1984 "that all polling places for Federal elections are accessible to handicapped and elderly voters." Since 1992, Pennsylvania law has required polling places to be accessible for all State elections.

In a 2008 report to the General Assembly, roughly 21% of polling places in Pennsylvania remain inaccessible. In Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, this percentage may even be higher.

A partial survey of polling places in Lawrence County was done on Election Day, November 3, 2009. The survey found that an astounding number of polling places are still inaccessible in Lawrence County. Out of 30 polling places surveyed, 77% were found to be inaccessible even though the County claimed 100% accessibility.

In 2010 Lawrence County will consolidate voting districts, reducing the number of polling places.

Disability Options Network has set out to ensure that all polling places for the consolidated voting districts are accessible. This is the perfect time for Lawrence County to step up and comply with the law.

TAKE ACTION! Contact Lawrence County Voter Registration and Elections at lcvote@co.lawrence.pa.us and demand that they make sure that ALL Lawrence County polling places are accessible.

Information about polling place accessibility that will help you identify problems is available at http://www.disabilityoptionsnetwork.org/vote.php.