Johnson County aims to help voters with disabilities on Election Day

IOWA CITY - The Johnson County Auditor's Office and local advocates for those with disabilities want to make sure everyone has a chance to vote this Election Day - especially those who face extra challenges.

Auditor Travis Weipert and advocate Harry Olmstead have been working on a number of programs to ensure everyone can get to the polls on Tuesday and cast a vote once they arrive. In Johnson County, people with disabilities can use curbside voting, free bus fares and trained volunteers, among other support methods, all on Nov. 8.

'It's a very cooperative effort between us,” said Olmstead, who is disabled and has been vocal in Johnson County and Iowa City circles on issues pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Efforts like these on Election Day may help the roughly 1 in 7 voters who have a disability, officials said. In the 2012 presidential election, voter turnout among those with disabilities was almost 6 percent lower than people without disabilities, according to the group Iowans with Disabilities in Action - or ID Action.

'We do everything we can because, at the end of the day, we want everybody to get out and vote.” Weipert said.

curbside voting

To help some of the nearly 350,000 people with disabilities in the state, Iowa law requires all precincts to provide curbside voting for those who may not be able to get out of their cars. The problem, Weipert said, is that many people do not know about that option

Those who wish to curbside vote may call the Johnson County Auditor's Office at (319) 356-6004 once they arrive or send someone in to inform precinct volunteers. Then, two election officials, one from each party, are to deliver voting materials to the car.

Transportation

When it comes to transportation on Election Day, Olmstead said officials are taking a 'two-pronged approach” by offering free rides for people with disabilities on Iowa City and Coralville municipal buses and SEATS. ID Action awarded a grant to help with the project, according to an Iowa City news release.

SEATS, a door-to-door van service in Johnson County, does require riders to be qualified and schedule at least 24 hours in advance. Each city has its own requirements for SEATS eligibility but, for more information, residents can visit the Johnson County SEATS website.

Additionally, Weipert said his office has been working with Iowa City officials to ensure there are enough downtown parking spaces on Election Day, by planning to cover up some metered parking with handicap parking signs near polling locations.

trained volunteers

Once voters with disabilities get to the polls, Olmstead said more than 60 volunteers and coordinators, who were trained last month, should be on hand Election Day. The volunteers help those with disabilities with tasks like reading ballots.

Olmstead and others created a Facebook group, Johnson County Transportation on Election Day for Persons with a Disability, with more information about Election Day transportation and volunteers.

Weipert said in addition to these preparations, the Auditor's Office has examined all of its voting locations to ensure they meet new Department of Justice guidelines for accessibility. He said about six or seven locations fell short for reasons like insufficient ramps, not enough accessible parking or 'just about anything you can think of.”

A complete list of updated polling locations can be found on the Johnson County Auditor's website under the polling locations/sample ballot tab.

'We do everything possible to meet the Department of Justice standards for accessibility,” Weipert said.

More help for voters with disabilities may be on the way. Weipert said the county plans to order all new voting equipment after this year's election, including the equipment that helps those with disabilities vote.

For now, the Iowa Secretary of State's website, sos.iowa.gov/disabilities, has a complete county-by-county list of voting equipment for those with disabilities and videos on how to use them, among other resources.