Commissioners say county can’t afford to comply with state accessibility laws

Nearly 90 percent of polling places violate Ohio code

By Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.com
Two Washington County commissioners said Thursday they will not move to make polling places in the county more compliant with accessibility standards in the Ohio Revised Code until they are fined or cited by the secretary of state.

Commissioner Sam Cook said the county simply does not have the money to devote to upgrading the polling places. Commissioner John Grimes agreed.

“We have a responsibility to protect the citizens and their money,” Cook told members of the county board of elections. “And this is just more spending of money. If they come and cite you, we will answer the citation.”

Federal law mandates that all polling places comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state statutes.

Tara Hupp, deputy director of the elections board, said that they are in compliance with ADA, but not with the Ohio Revised Code.

“If there is only one building in the township (where you can have a polling place), what are you supposed to do?” she said.

Peggy Byers, director of the elections board, said there has been some insinuation from the secretary of state’s office that they will be fined if they do not start to comply.

Commissioner Larry Steinel disagreed with Cook and Grimes. He said his son, who relies on a wheelchair, was not able to enter his polling place at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Beverly. He had voted absentee prior to Election Day.

Byers said the wheelchair ramp at the church is too steep according to state code.

“Even with an electric chair, he was not able to get up that ramp,” Steinel said.

At their regular meeting Wednesday, election board member Tom Cox said roughly 90 percent of the county’s polling places did not meet accessibility requirements.

The commissioners also discussed the courthouse cafe operated by WASCO Inc. Several tables were recently set up outside the establishment, and Ann Block, the regional liaison from the secretary of state’s office, told the election board that could violate a state statute which bans loitering or congregating outside a polling place.

In the 35 days prior to Election Day, the election board is considered a polling place because voters are allowed to cast early ballots there. Hupp said the law is intended to keep voters from being unduly influenced by outside sources.

Cook said the solution they favor is removing the tables from the ground floor of the courthouse during election season, but they would discuss the issue with WASCO before they made a decision.