Polling Places Make The Grade For Disability Accessibility Ahead Of November Elections

Polling places in both the St. Croix District and the St. Thomas-St. John District received high marks overall in the recently released U.S. Virgin Islands Polling Place Accessibility Survey conducted by the Disability Rights Center of the Virgin Islands (DRCVI). However, while there were notable improvements at the polling sites since the last time the survey was conducted in 2010, the new report says there is still much work to be done.

All 28 polling sites in the Territory were surveyed “to address accessibility problems in advance of this year’s election cycle,” according to information contained in the 37-page report. One significant improvement noted in the 2014 survey was that “bathrooms were renovated to ADA specifications,” something that had been “lacking in the 2010 polling place survey” the report said.

VI Polling Place Accessibility Survey

Six specific categories at each polling place were analyzed for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including:

• Parking lot
• Path from parking area to entrance of building
• Entrance to building
• Route(s) to voting room from inside the building
• Bathroom and
• Polling place

Based on the survey, conducted by Juan Figueroa, Sr., and his assistant Kishma Creque, a final grade of A to F was issued to each polling place. Overall, St. Croix polling sites were assessed as “very good” while polling places on St. Thomas-St. John were assessed as “excellent.” Each site was also ranked from 1 to 28 (28 being the least compliant) in order to provide the Election Boards with “a framework for prioritizing which facilities need immediate attention” prior to Election Day on November 4.

Of the 28 polling places, only St. Gerard’s Hall in Frederiksted received a failing grade of ‘F’, due to non-compliance issues with parking spaces, hand rails, ramp accessibility and bathrooms. None of the issues had been corrected at the site since they were outlined on the 2010 survey. Leonard Dober Elementary School in St. Thomas received a ‘D’ grade due to some of the same non-compliant issues. St. Gerard’s was ranked No. 28 on the list; and St. Croix’s Florence E. Williams Library in Christiansted was ranked No. 1.

Amelia Headley LaMont, executive director of DRCVI, a private non-profit corporation that is a part of a national network of protection and advocacy systems for persons with disabilities, explained the scope of her organization.

“In addition to working on voting surveys, we also cover a variety of issues of concern to the disability community, [including] employment, education, compliance with respect to the American with Disabilities Act and a host of other things,” she said. “In essence, we litigate, we mediate, we negotiate, we advocate and do a number of workshops for [anyone] who wants to know about the rights of persons with disabilities.”

Of the survey, LaMont said it is in its third year, with previous ones being issued in 2004 and 2010. She highlighted some of the significant findings.

“As a result of our findings on St. Girard’s Hall, the Election System decided to close it down because it was not architecturally accessible,” LaMont explained. “Persons who had been voting at St. Girards were now moved to Claude O. Marko School for voting.”

LaMont also pointed out that the 2014 survey identified issues with bathroom and van-accessible parking at some sites, which she said were outside of the control of the Elections System.

“If you have a person who uses a vehicle that needs to have access to their wheelchair, it’s not helpful if the adjoining vehicle is so close that you can’t get out of the car, much less to get into the wheelchair,” she said.

However, LaMont was pleased with the overall improvements reported in the 2014 survey.

“Mr. Figueroa visited all the polling stations, took photos and [the Elections System] took an interest, and I think it’s a good thing they recognize that we have a pretty substantial population that vote,” she said. LaMont noted, however, that based on a report from Cornell University, there are a little over 10,000 persons with disabilities living in the Virgin Islands, adding that “we have not yet captured how many registered voters are persons with disabilities.”

She went on to praise the efforts of the Election System.

“[They’re] taking into account voters with mobility impairments, which you might need to do if you use a wheelchair lower the stand so that you can gain access to the ballot; the Election System also purchased a device called the sip and puff,” a device specifically designed for use by voters who do not have the use of their hands.

She continued, “I think the Election System, by and large, has been very responsive to some items we have pointed out to them and I think that overall, the elections staff and the judges are very much in tuned to working with the disability community and I think that’s a good thing.”

St. Croix District Board of Elections & Persons with Disabilities

Glenn Webster, secretary of the Board of Elections, St. Croix District, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to serving voters with disabilities.

“We’ve ordered the sip and puff device, which contains disposable straws that will be used to cast votes with the mouth because [those voters] are unable to use their hands,” he explained.

He continued, “Here in the Virgin Islands, I don’t see that many people with severe disabilities as I’ve seen in the states, but here I do see people with Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, which at some point you lose the use of your hands.”

Since St. Girard’s Hall is no longer a viable polling site due to its non-compliance with ADA standards, Webster said the hall’s owners would have to make the recommended changes by DRCVI in order for the Election System to consider using the site as a again.

Early voting begins on Tuesday, Oct. 21 and ends on Friday, Oct. 31. Webster encourages persons with disabilities to take advantage of this two-week period.

“Early voting is good for people who are visually impaired, hearing impaired or physically challenged,” he said. “Voting early can help them avoid all the traffic [on Election Day]; It is something that will benefit them the most.”

Webster also said the Election System has funds available that may help transport persons with disabilities to and from polling sites for early voting using VITRAN Plus. However, he said this service may not be available on Election Day, due to logistical difficulties. To make reservations for this door-to-door service under ADA, please call 773-1290 ext. 2238 on St. Croix and (340) 774-5678 on St. Thomas. Reservations should be made at least 24-hours in advance. Persons are reminded to present a valid, legal form of identification in order to vote.

The Election System will also hold a series of sensitivity training workshops to better serve persons with disabilities. On Monday, Oct. 20 and Wednesday, Oct. 22, training will be conducted for election judges and facilitators; while Thursday, Oct. 23 and Friday, Oct. 24, training is scheduled for all other poll workers.

Photo Credit: CSnews