Section 209.30 Guidelines
for Accessibility
a) System of Registration
To be
accessible to handicapped and elderly potential voters a system of registration
shall provide an opportunity for each potential voter to register at the
residence of such voter.
b) Polling Places
To be
accessible to handicapped and elderly voters a polling place must have at least
one circulation route which meets the following criteria:
1) Exterior Circulation Routes
There shall be
at least one path of travel that shall have no steps or slope greater than 1:12
from the curb or parking area to an entrance of the polling place building and
facilities.
A) Walks and Sidewalks
i) The narrowest unobstructed width of walks and sidewalks shall
be 3'-0".
ii) Walks and sidewalks shall be of a continuing common surface,
not interrupted by changes in level steeper than 1:20 and inconsistent with
Section 209.30(d). Surfaces shall be firm and stable. A firm surface is one
that is made of concrete, brick, packed gravel, asphalt, wood or other manmade
surface.
iii) Walks with gradients steeper than 1:20 shall be considered as
ramps and conform to the requirements of Section 209.30(d) of this Part. Ramps
on walks shall not be steeper than 1:12.
iv) Walks with sustained gradients of no greater than 1:20 shall
have level areas of at least 5' in length at intervals of not more than 110'.
v) No rigid or hard object shall project into the space above a
walk lower than 7'6" measured from the surface.
vi) Wherever walks and sidewalks intersect with other walks and
sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, or streets, the surfaces shall blend to a
common level to allow smooth passage of wheelchairs. (See Appendix A)
B) Parking
i) If parking areas are provided, pursuant to a contractual
agreement, as part of the premises used as a polling place by voters, they
shall have parking spaces specifically for the handicapped and an accessible
path of travel to the polling place building. There is no requirement that
parking be provided. If passenger loading zones are provided, they shall be
accessible to the handicapped and be close to the aforementioned path of
travel.
ii) If parking spaces for the handicapped are provided, they
shall be marked to indicate that they are reserved for disabled drivers, using
the International Symbol for Accessibility. Such markings shall be placed on a
pole or wall mounted and may be accompanied by markings painted on the surface
(See Appendix C)
2) Entrances, Doors and Doorways
A) At least one entrance (exit) to the polling place building and
rooms shall be accessible. The accessible entrance to the polling place should
be identified and marked using the International Symbol for Accessibility. But,
such marking is not required for the facility to be considered accessible.
(See Appendix C)
B) The floor on the inside and outside of each doorway shall
preferably be level, but may slope no more than 1:50.
C) Entrances shall have a minimum clear width of 2'-8". This
dimension shall be measured from the face of the door to the face of the door
stop. Where double doors are used, at least one leaf shall allow a 2'-8"
clear opening. (See Appendix B: Illustration A)
D) The minimum space between two hinged doors in a series shall be
the width of the door swinging into the space plus 4'-0". Door swings of
doors in series shall open in the same direction. Single doors hung in series
shall be hinged at the same side.
E) At vestibules where doors are at right angles to each other,
the dimension between the wall with the inswinging door and the facing wall
shall be 6'-6" minimum. The minimum dimension in the other direction
shall be 5'-0".
F) If the specifications in Subsections (3), (4) and (5) above
cannot be satisfied, then one of the two doors shall be securely fastened in an
open position during the hours when the polling place is open. (See Appendix
B: Illustration B)
G) The maximum height of thresholds at exterior and interior doors
shall be ½". Where there are differences in floor level between rooms or
spaces, the threshold shall be sloped at no more than 1:20.
H) Doors shall be operable without movements requiring a tight
grasp, complex hand movements, or the exertion of great force.
3) Interior Circulation Routes
A) There shall be an accessible path of travel from an accessible
entrance to the voting area.
B) The voting area in the polling place building shall be served
from an accessible entrance by at least one path of travel that does not have
stairs or escalators.
C) The minimum clear width of halls, corridors, passageways and
aisles shall be 3'-0".
D) No rigid or hard objects shall project into the space above a
path of travel unless the dimension from the bottom edge of the object to the
walk surface is at least 7'-6".
4) Ramps
A) If possible, alternative design solutions to ramps should be
provided because of the substantial energy demands required to negotiate them
by those in wheelchairs, plus the difficulties encountered by amputees and
others with gait problems on ascent and descent. Ramps shall allow
unrestricted traffic flow, and be free of hazards. All ramps constructed or
temporarily installed in a polling place building shall meet the requirements
of this Part.
B) Any part of a circulation path shall be considered a ramp if it
has a slope that is greater than 1:20. The following table gives allowable
slopes and maximum lengths.
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Allowable Slope
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Maximum Rise in a Single Ramp
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Total Number of Ramp Segments Permitted
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Maximum Length of a Single
Ramp Segment
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Total Length of Ramp Permitted
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1:8
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6"
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1
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4'
– 0"
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4'
– 0"
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1:10
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9"
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1
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7'
– 6"
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7'
– 6"
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1:12
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2'
– 6"
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Unlimited
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30'
– 0"
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Unlimited
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1:16
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2'
– 6"
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Unlimited
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40'
– 0"
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Unlimited
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1:20
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2'
– 6"
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Unlimited
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50'
– 0"
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Unlimited
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C) All ramps in a rampway shall have identical slopes. Ramps of
1:8 are permitted to be used where the election authority determines that
existing physical constraints prevent the construction of more gradually sloped
ramps and the requirements of Subsection (2), above, are met.
D) All ramps with a rise greater than 9" shall have handrails
on both sides. Handrails shall be continuous along the ramp segment.
E) Ramps shall have a minimum clear width of 3'-0".
F) Ramps shall have level platforms at the bottom and the top of
each run, at least 5'-0" long and be at least as wide as the ramp.
Intermediate platforms shall be 5'-0" minimum between each ramp segment.
See above Table for the maximum allowable lengths of ramp segments.
G) Intermediate turning platforms shall be a minimum of 5'-0"
in length and 7'-0" wide to allow wheelchair maneuvering through 180
degrees, and at least 5'-0" long in both directions for turns of 90
degrees.
H) If doors open out onto the ramp platform, a level area at least
5'-0" deep and 5'-0" wide shall be provided.
I) The ramp surface shall be slip resistant as set forth in 71
Ill. Adm. Code 400.1510(f).
J) No object shall be hung from above or the sides that projects
into a rampway lower than 7'-6" from the surface of the ramp or landing.
Below this height, no object shall project into a rampway other than the
handrails.
5) Elevators
If elevators are necessary to access the voting area, the
elevators shall be on an accessible route and shall comply with the American
National Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators, and
Moving Walks, ANSI A17.1-1978 and A17.1a-1979 and include no later amendments
or additions.
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TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.40 DETERMINATION OF ACCESSIBILITY
Section 209.40 Determination
of Accessibility
a) The County Board or Board of Election Commissioners shall
survey every polling place facility to be used throughout the jurisdiction to
determine whether such facilities are in compliance with the criteria set forth
in this Part.
b) The survey shall be completed using the form prescribed by the
State Board of Elections. This completed survey form shall be retained by the
election authority for the period the site is used as a polling place. Copies
of the survey shall be made available for public inspection and to the State
Board of Elections upon request.
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.50 EXEMPTION PROCEDURES
Section 209.50 Exemption
Procedures
a)
1) A facility shall be considered to be a potential polling place
when it can be leased for the hours needed on election day at the normal rate
paid by the jurisdiction and meets the requirements of Sections 11-2 and 11-4
of the Act.
2) If all potential polling place facilities have been
surveyed and no accessible facility is available and the facilities which are
available cannot reasonably be made temporarily accessible, due to
budgetary and available manpower constraints, the election authority shall request
in writing to the State Board of Elections that the existing polling place be
exempt from the criteria set forth in this Part. A separate request for
exemption shall be submitted for each polling place not in compliance.
Completion of a survey form is not required for facilities not used. Nothing
herein shall require the installation of temporary ramps. (41 U.S.C.
1973ee-1(b))
b) In order to be granted an exemption by the State Board of
Elections, the written request shall:
1) identify the polling place for which the exemption is
requested;
2) identify the provisions of this Part with which the existing
site is not in compliance;
3) describe the efforts made to locate a site in compliance with
this Part;
4) describe what continued efforts will be made to achieve
compliance during the period that the exemption is in effect;
5) be accompanied with a copy of the completed survey form; and
6) bear the signature of the election authority.
c) In order to be considered, a request for an exemption shall be
filed within 10 days following the day the polling place is established by the
County Board or Board of Election Commissioners, pursuant to Sections 11-2 and
11-4 of the Act. However, in 1986, a request for an exemption for any
previously established polling place shall be filed with the State Board of
Elections not later than February 1 of that year.
d) Within 10 working days following the receipt of an initial
request for exemption, containing all information, forms and signatures
required by Subsection (b) above, the State Board of Elections will grant a
certification of exemption to the election authority for that polling place.
Such exemption shall be valid for a period of 2 years from the date of
issuance. If a second request for an exemption is submitted for a previously
exempted polling place, the State Board of Elections shall respond in writing within
45 days following receipt of the request.
e) If one or more disabled persons contact the State Board of
Elections concerning a specific exemption, the Board shall work in cooperation
with the election authority and the disabled persons in locating an available
accessible facility.
f) If the State Board of Elections is notified that an accessible
facility which is a potential polling place as provided in Section 209.50(a)
can be leased as a polling place by the election authority during the period
that the exemption is in effect, Board staff shall verify the existence and
accessibility of the facility. Upon verification by Board staff that the
facility meets the requirements of this Part, written notification shall be
sent to the election authority of the location of the accessible facility and
of the fact that the requirements for an exemption for a polling place in that
precinct are no longer met and that the previously granted exemption is no
longer in effect.
g) The election authority shall notify the State Board of
Elections of the change in polling place facility within 10 days of the
establishment of the new polling place.
h) Upon the expiration of an exemption, no certification of
exemption shall be granted by the State Board of Elections for any polling
place in that precinct unless the Board determines that a potential polling
place is not available and that no available facility can reasonably be made
accessible.
i) The decision of whether a potential polling place required by
Subsection (h) above, is available shall be made by the Board after
consideration of a non-binding recommendation made by a joint committee. That
committee is chosen by the election authority subject to the following
requirements.
1) The election authority shall have one or more representatives;
2) The joint committee shall have at least one handicapped
member, provided one or more handicapped persons volunteer for membership; and
3) One or more staff members of the State Board of Elections
shall be appointed, subject to staff constraints. In allocation of Board
staff, preference shall be given to joint committees with no handicapped
members.
If no committee is formed, no exemption shall be granted by
the Board.
j) To allow for maximum participation on the committee by the
State Board of Elections, the election authority shall notify the State Board
of Elections of the need for a committee to be formed not less than 15 business
days before the committee is scheduled to meet.
k) Upon completion of its survey, the committee shall submit in
writing to the State Board of Elections a report of its findings and a
non-binding recommendation. If the committee recommends that an exemption be
granted, a petition for exemption and a copy of the completed survey form shall
accompany the recommendation.
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.60 EMERGENCY PROVISION
Section 209.60 Emergency
Provision
a) If an election authority has determined that an accessible
polling place has become unavailable due to reasons such as discovery of
previously-unknown leasing restraints, snow, fire, labor strikes, natural
disasters or unforseen circumstances less than 30 days prior to an election, an
emergency exists and this Part shall not apply.
b) Any alternate polling place not in compliance with this Part
shall be considered temporary and cannot be used in ensuing elections without
an exemption from the State Board of Elections.
c) Not more than 30 days following the election, the election
authority shall notify the State Board of Elections in writing of the polling
place change and describe the emergency which caused the alternate polling
place to be used.
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.70 ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR CASTING BALLOTS AT INACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES
Section 209.70 Alternative
Means for Casting Ballots at Inaccessible Polling Places
a) In those instances where an exemption has been granted
pursuant to Section 209.50 of this Part, or where an alternate polling place
which is not in compliance with Section 209.30 of this Part is established
under Section 209.60 of this Part, any handicapped or elderly voter who is
prevented from entering the polling place shall be entitled to request that a
ballot be delivered to such voter at the point where the voter is unable to
continue toward the polling place. However, no ballot shall be delivered to
such voter beyond the farthest point of inaccessibility along the circulation
route.
b) The voter shall certify to the election authority not later
than the close of business on the day before the election, on a form prescribed
by the State Board of Elections, that he or she is unable to enter the polling
place and that he or she is requesting that a ballot be delivered to the voter
at the point where he or she is unable to continue toward the polling place.
However, no ballot shall be delivered to such voter beyond the farthest point
of inaccessibility along the circulation route.
c) Two judges of election, not of the same political party,
shall deliver to the voter the appropriate ballot to which the voter is
entitled, a portable voting booth or other enclosure that will allow the voter
to mark his or her ballot in secrecy and a marking device. (Section
7-47.1(b) of the Act)
d) In those instances where an established polling place has been
moved after notice of the polling place location has been published by the
local election authority, any handicapped voter may request that a ballot be
delivered at a point where he or she is unable to continue toward the polling
place; but in no case more than 50 feet from the entrance to the building in
which the polling place is located. This request can be made at any time up
through and including election day.
e) The voter must complete the entire voting process,
including the application for ballot from which the judges of election shall
compare the voter's signature with the signature on his or her registration
record card in the precinct binder. (Section 7-47.1(c) of the Act)
f) After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it
in the ballot envelope or security sleeve (or folded it in the manner
prescribed for paper ballot), the 2 judges of election shall return the ballot
to the polling place and give it to the judges in charge of the ballot box who
shall deposit it therein. (Section 7-47.1(c) of the Act)
g) No assistance may be given to the voter in marking his or
her ballot, unless the voter request such assistance and completes the
affidavit required by Section 17-14 of the Election Code. (Sections
7-47.1(c) and 17-14 of the Act)
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.75 ALTERNATIVE MEANS FOR CASTING BALLOTS AT ACCESSIBLE POLLING PLACES
Section 209.75 Alternative
Means for Casting Ballots at Accessible Polling Places
a) Any handicapped voter who, because of structural features
of the building in which the polling place is located, is unable to access or
enter the polling place may request that a ballot be delivered to such voter at
the point where the voter is unable to continue toward the polling place; but
in no case shall a ballot be delivered to the voter more than 50 feet from the
entrance to the building in which the polling place is located. (Section
17-13(b) of the Act)
b) The voter shall certify to the election authority not later
than the close of business on the day before the election, on a form prescribed
by the State Board of Elections, that he or she is unable to enter the polling
place and that he or she is requesting that a ballot be delivered to the voter
at the point where he or she is unable to continue toward the polling place;
but in no case more than 50 feet from the entrance to the building in which the
polling place is located. (Section 17-13(b) of the Act)
c) Weather permitting, two judges of election, not of the same
political party, shall deliver to the voter the appropriate ballot to which the
voter is entitled, a portable voting booth or other enclosure that will allow
the voter to mark his or her ballot in secrecy and a marking device.
(Section 7-47.1(b) of the Act)
d) The voter must complete the entire voting process,
including the application for ballot from which the judges of election shall compare
the voter's signature with the signature on his or her registration record card
in the precinct binder. (Section 7-47.1(c) of the Act)
e) After the voter has marked his or her ballot and placed it
in the ballot envelope or security sleeve (or folded it in the manner
prescribed for paper ballot), the 2 judges of election shall return the ballot
to the polling place and give it to the judges in charge of the ballot box who
shall deposit it therein. (Section 7-47.1(c) of the Act)
f) No assistance may be given to the voter in marking his or
her ballot, unless the voter requests such assistance and completes the
affidavit required by Section 17-14 of the Election Code. (Sections
7-47.1(c) and 17-14 of the Act)
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.80 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
Section 209.80
Responsibilities of the State Board of Elections
The State Board of Elections
shall:
a) prepare a list of all polling places by election jurisdiction
for which an exemption was granted. Such list shall contain the location of the
polling place, the reason for the inaccessibility and the date the exemption
was granted. Such list together with the petition for exemption shall be a
public record at the office of the State Board of Elections;
b) within 2 days following the receipt of a written notification
from the United States Attorney General or a person who is personally aggrieved
by the noncompliance that an election jurisdiction is not in compliance with
this Part, transmit a copy of the notification to the election authority. Upon
receipt of this notice, the election authority shall make available to the
State Board of Elections copies of the survey forms concerning the polling
place facilities in question.
c) not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, verify
the list of exemptions with each election authority; and
d) not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year, report
to the Federal Election Commission, in a manner to be determined by the
Commission, the number of accessible and inaccessible polling places
throughout the State on the date of the preceding general Federal election and
the reason for any instance of inaccessibility. (42 U.S.C. 1973ee-1(c))
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.90 REGISTRATION AND VOTING AIDS FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
Section 209.90 Registration
and Voting Aids for the Elderly and Handicapped
a) Each election authority shall make available registration and
voting aids for elderly and handicapped individuals including:
1) instructions, printed in large type, displayed in an
unobstructed manner at each permanent registration facility and each polling
place. (Section 11-4.3 of the Act)
2) voting aids for visually impaired voters, such as a magnifying
lens suitable to fit over the ballot booklet in each polling place, a sample
ballot printed in large type, or sample ballot booklet pages printed in large
type; and
3) a large-handled stylus for punching the ballot in each polling
place.
b) Prior to each election, as part of the published notice of the
location of the polling places for that election pursuant to Sections 12-1,
12-3, 12-4 and 12-5 of the Act, the election authority shall indicate those
polling places which have been granted an exemption from the criteria set forth
in this Part by the State Board of Elections. Such notice shall indicate that
a polling place is "inaccessible."
(Source: Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 10708, effective June 14, 1988)
Section 209.APPENDIX A Exterior Circulation Routes
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.APPENDIX B ENTRANCES, DOORS AND DOORWAYS
Section 209.APPENDIX B Entrances,
Doors and Doorways
Section 209.ILLUSTRATION A Minimum
Clear Door Openings
Section 209.APPENDIX B
Entrances, Doors and Doorways
Section 209.ILLUSTRATION B Minimum
Requirements For Doors Opening in Series
| TITLE 26: ELECTIONS
CHAPTER I: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
PART 209
VOTING ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
SECTION 209.APPENDIX C INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL FOR ACCESSIBILITY
Section 209.APPENDIX C International
Symbol for Accessibility
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