FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Peri Jude Radecic, Acting Executive Director
October
27, 2006 (520)
327-9547, extension 23
November marks first federal election since law’s
deadline for compliance with voting system requirements.
Tucson, Arizona...On October 26, 2002, President George W. Bush signed
into law the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which, among other things, seeks to
secure election access for a wide range of individuals with disabilities -
including, but not limited to, individuals with cognitive, sensory and physical
disabilities - pursuant to Congress’ broad mandate to “ensure the full
participation in the electoral process for individuals with disabilities,
including registering to vote, casting a vote, and accessing polling places.”
November’s election marks the
first federal election since HAVA’s deadline for
ensuring that each polling place is accessible and has at least one accessible
voting machine to ensure the right of every citizen with a disability the same
private and independent vote guaranteed any other citizen.
“While we look forward to the
increased accessibility of the voting process in Arizona for people with
disabilities on November 7, we also know that implementation of the law is
still a long way from meeting Congress’ intent,” said Peri Jude Radecic, Acting
Executive Director at the Arizona Center for Disability Law (Center).
Despite the law’s deadline
for compliance earlier this year, many polling sites in
To ensure that people with
disabilities have full participation in the electoral process, the Center will
extend its hours of operation on election day to
handle complaints about polling place accessibility and voting equipment
barriers. Individuals with disabilities
are encouraged to call the
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The Arizona Center for
Disability Law is a not for profit public interest law firm, dedicated to
protecting the rights of individuals with a wide range of physical, mental,
psychiatric, sensory and cognitive disabilities. The