Section 51.02 - Accessibility DefinedSection 3 (a) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ee-1(a), requires every city and town to assure that all polling places for federal elections are accessible to handicapped and elderly voters, unless the Secretary exempts them. A polling place is "accessible" to handicapped and elderly voters, for the purpose of sections 3(a) and 8(1) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1973ee-1(a), 1973ee-6(1), only if all of the following requirements are met:
(1)Site Access. A clear, reasonably lit, unobstructed path of travel must be provided from the designated spaces in the parking lot, and from the street, to the accessible entrance to the building where the polling place is located. Such path of travel shall have a continuous common surface, not interrupted by steps or abrupt changes in level greater than 1/2 inch.(2)Parking. If a parking lot is available on the premises of the polling place, then the following requirements apply: (a) Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines (4.1.2 (5)), the number of required handicapped parking spaces is: Total No. of Parking Spaces | No. of Handicapped Required |
1 - 25 | 1 |
26 - 50 | 2 |
51 - 75 | 3 |
76 - 100 | 4 |
101 - 150 | 5 |
151 - 200 | 6 |
201 - 300 | 7 |
301 - 400 | 8 |
401 - 500 | 9 |
510 - 1,000 | 2% of total |
1,001 and over | 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 |
(b) For parking lots striped prior to September 1, 1996: 1. The handicapped parking spaces shall be eight feet wide and have an adjacent four foot access aisle which is painted or striped yellow. The lot shall be reasonably lit.2. Identification of handicapped spaces shall be by a sign at each space or pair of spaces. The signs shall be at a height of not less than five feet nor more than eight feet to the top of the sign. The sign shall also contain the International Symbol of Accessibility and may include wording identifying its use.(c) For parking lots striped after September 1, 1996:1. The handicapped parking spaces shall be eight feet wide and have an adjacent five foot access aisle which is marked by high contrast painted lines or other high contrast delineation. The lot shall be reasonably lit.2. There shall be at least one "van accessible" space, but not less than one, per eight accessible spaces. The van accessible space shall be eight feet wide and have an adjacent eight foot wide access aisle which is marked by high contrast painted lines or other high contrast delineation. The lot shall be reasonably lit.3. Identification of handicapped spaces shall be by a sign at each space or pair of spaces. The signs shall be at a height of not less than five feet nor more than eight feet to the top of the sign. The sign shall also contain the International Symbol of Accessibility and may include wording identifying its use. Van accessible spaces shall include the words "Van Accessible."(d) If a sidewalk is provided at such parking spaces, a curb cut (sidewalk ramp) shall be installed at each space or pair of spaces. The slope of the curb cut shall not exceed 1:12.(e) If no parking lot is available on the premises of the polling place, at least one on-street parking place in front of the polling place must be at least temporarily designated as a handicapped parking space. Identification of the handicapped space shall be by the sign provided in 950 CMR 51.02(2)(c)3.(3)Entrance. (a) At least one entrance to the building must be accessible to physically disabled persons. If the main entrance to the building is not accessible, signs must be posted directing persons from the ordinary path of travel to the accessible entrance. 1. If the main entrance to the building is not accessible, the path of travel to the accessible entrance shall be the same or a substantially similar distance as the path of travel to the main entrance.2. If the main entrance is not the accessible entrance, the door to the accessible entrance shall be unlocked and capable of being operated without assistance during the hours the polling place is open and at the same hours as the main entrance.(b) The approach to the accessible entrance shall be a paved walk or ramp with a non-slip surface, uninterrupted by steps or abrupt changes in level greater than 1/2 inch. Such entrance shall have a level space 60 inches from the door on the interior and exterior of the doors.(c) Doors to such entrances shall be a minimum of 32 inches clear, measured at 90°. No door threshold shall be higher than 1/2 inch above the floor on either side. Lever handles or other accessible hardware must be provided on doors, so that they may be operated with a closed fist.(4)Ramps. (a) If the entrance has stairs, a ramp must be provided. A permanent ramp must comply with the following: 1. The slope of the ramp must be no steeper than 1:12.2. The width of the ramp shall not be less than 48 inches.3. Two pairs of handrails must be set on both sides of the ramp. Such handrails must be round or oval in shape and set in pairs, one at a height between 34 and 38 inches and a lower rail set at a height between 18 and 20 inches.(b) If it is impractical to install a permanent ramp, portable ramps shall be provided. Portable ramps shall have a slope as close to 1:12 as possible, and if a portable ramp has no handrails or side walls, it must have wheel guards at least two inches high on both sides. Portable ramps may be used to gain access from the parking lot or street to the sidewalk as well as at the entrance to a building. Portable ramps shall be securely anchored.(5)Building Interior. (a) All interior doors, approaches, and ramps necessary within the building to obtain access to the polling place must comply with 950 CMR 51.02(3) and (4).(b) An accessible route which provides a continuous unobstructed path at least 36 inches wide shall be maintained inside the polling place and shall coincide with the route for the general public.(6)Voting Equipment.(a) For every state, federal, municipal election, preliminary or primary, either regular or special, each polling place shall have at least one accessible voting unit that is usable by people with disabilities. Any accessible voting unit must first be approved for use by the state secretary. Accessible voting units shall be located within a polling place so as to be readily available for use by voters during the voting hours.(b) In every polling place, a specimen ballot must be posted at a height no greater than 48 inches.(c) Where paper or punch-card ballots are used, at least one marking shelf at each polling place (at a primary where punch-card booklets are used, one for each party) must provide clear space under the shelf not less than 30 inches wide, at least 27 inches clear to the underside of the shelf, and not more than 32 inches in height to the top of the shelf, and must contain privacy barriers on both sides of the shelf. For this special marking shelf, the handle of any stylus used for punching punch card ballots shall be at least one inch thick and at least three inches long.(d) Where voting machines are used, a specimen ballot must be placed in at least one machine at each polling place, at a height no greater than 48 inches. For voting machines which have any levers higher than 48 inches above the floor, a "reacher" must be made available to assist disabled persons in reaching the upper levers.(7)Variances. A city or town may apply to the Architectural Access Board, under 521 CMR 3.00 (4.1.1), for a variance from the accessibility requirements of 950 CMR 51.02 or, to the extent that they apply to any polling place, from the requirements of the Architectural Access Board's regulations in 521 CMR 3.00. Notice of an application for any such variance shall be given in the manner required by 950 CMR 51.03(4)(b), and shall also be given to the Director of Elections. No such variance shall be allowed which substantially impairs the accessibility of a polling place to handicapped and elderly voters.(8)Time Accessibility Required. All non-exempt polling places must be accessible no later than three weeks before the first federal election of an even-numbered year.