1. Concord, New Hampshire September 2, 2010
Accessibility
Concord, New Hampshire
September 2, 2010

2. NH Constitution –
Places for Voting Registration & Polling Places-
Easily accessible to all persons including Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons
NH RSA 658 –
Each polling place
Easily accessible to all persons including Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons

3. Help America Vote Act Section 301 (a) 3 Voting System
(A) be accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and visually impaired, …;
(B) at least one direct recording electronic voting system or other voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities at each polling place; and…….

4. Americans with Disabilities Act ADA
20th Anniversary
Signed into law on July 26, 1990
by President George H.W. Bush

5. Accommodation
There are no provisions that require or allow a ballot to be brought outside the rail area to accommodate a voter with a disability.

6. Accessible Polling Places

7. Under Moderator Training
Handout
Selection of a Polling
Place
&
Accessibility of a
Polling Place
2008
On NHVotes
Under Moderator Training

8. On Line

9. Selectmen
The selectmen of each town and ward shall provide
for a suitable place in which to hold state elections and shall see that the same is
warmed
lighted
furnished with proper supplies and conveniences.

10. Parking

11. Accessible Parking # of Accessible Spaces
1 space in lots of 1 to 25 spaces
2 spaces in lots of 26 to 50 spaces
3 spaces in lots of 51 to 75 spaces
etc….
…at least one (1), must be marked
Van
Accessible

12. Routes of Travel

13. Continuous Common Surface
Routes of Travel
Continuous Common Surface
Exterior
no curbing w/o cuts
no bricks
no steps
no damaged pavement
no change in level that exceeds ¼ inch.
stable, firm, slip resistant
Interior
no thick mats or rugs
no raised boards/tiles
no steps
no thresholds over ½ ”

14. Routes of Travel 36 inches wide except for doorways
no protruding objects
slope of the walkways are less than 5 % or 1:20 grade.
NOTE: any part of an accessible route that has a slope greater than 1:20 is considered to be a ramp.

15. Protruding Objects Look for: Benches Trash Receptacles
Tree Limbs and Shrubbery
Water Fountains
Trophy Cases
Wall Phones

16. Protruding Objects If any object extends into the route of travel
more than 4 inches
cannot be moved
its bottom edge is more than 27 inches above the surface (phone kiosk, water fountain)
Place an object on the ground beneath it so that a blind or visually person can detect it with a cane.

17. Ramps

18. HANDRAILS EXTEND AT LEAST 12” BEYOND SLOPED PORTION OF RAMP
34”-38”
RAIL PARALLEL
LEVEL LANDINGS
LEVEL APPROACH
Slope: no greater than 1 foot rise per 12 foot run
Sloped portions: no longer than 30 feet

19. Entrances

20. Accessible Entrance
At least one entrance, preferably the main entrance,
to the polling place usable by elderly and persons with
disabilities that is clearly marked with the
international symbol of accessibility.
Be especially attentive to the interior route if the
main entrance and the accessible entrance are
different.

21. Accessible Entrance Door hardware
- no higher than 48” above the surface.
- operable with a closed fist.

22. Accessible Entrance Doorways must have a minimum clear opening
of 32” measured from the face of the door to
the opposite stop with the door open 90 degrees.

23. Accessible-Double Doors
Floor inside and outside of each doorway - level for a distance of 48 inches plus the width of any door swinging into the space.

24. Accessible Entrance
A single door that requires a pull motion to open requires 18 inches minimum on the pull side of the door to allow for the safe maneuvering of a wheelchair

25. COMMUNICATION TIPS Treat adults as adults. Offer to shake hands.
Speak directly to the person/not to a friend or
interpreter.
Identify yourself when meeting someone who is
blind or has low vision and let them know when
you are leaving their presence.
If you offer assistance, wait to see if your offer is
accepted, then ask how you can help.

26. COMMUNICATION TIPS
Listen attentively when talking with people who have difficulty speaking and wait for them to finish. If you do not understand, ask them to repeat what they have said.
Place yourself at eye-level when speaking to a person who is in a wheelchair or on crutches.
Do not distract or pet service animals.
Don’t get hung up on words like: hear, see, walk, run, etc. People with disabilities use the same terms all the time.

27. Assistant Secretary of State Email - Thomas.Manning@sos.nh.gov
Tom Manning
Assistant Secretary of State
Telephone –
Facsimile – -