Sec. 208. GAO analysis and report on voting access for individuals with disabilities
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The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an analysis after each regularly scheduled general election for Federal office with respect to the following: In relation to polling places located in houses of worship or other facilities that may be exempt from accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act— efforts to overcome accessibility challenges posed by such facilities; and the extent to which such facilities are used as polling places in elections for Federal office.
Assistance provided by the Election Assistance Commission, Department of Justice, or other Federal agencies to help State and local officials improve voting access for individuals with disabilities during elections for Federal office. When accessible voting machines are available at a polling place, the extent to which such machines— are located in places that are difficult to access; malfunction; or fail to provide sufficient privacy to ensure that the ballot of the individual cannot be seen by another individual.
The process by which Federal, State, and local governments track compliance with accessibility requirements related to voting access, including methods to receive and address complaints. The extent to which poll workers receive training on how to assist individuals with disabilities, including the receipt by such poll workers of information on legal requirements related to voting rights for individuals with disabilities. The extent and effectiveness of training provided to poll workers on the operation of accessible voting machines.
The extent to which individuals with a developmental or psychiatric disability experience greater barriers to voting, and whether poll worker training adequately addresses the needs of such individuals. The extent to which State or local governments employ, or attempt to employ, individuals with disabilities to work at polling sites. Not later than 9 months after the date of a regularly scheduled general election for Federal office, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report with respect to the most recent regularly scheduled general election for Federal office that contains the following:
The analysis required by subsection (a). Recommendations, as appropriate, to promote the use of best practices used by State and local officials to address barriers to accessibility and privacy concerns for individuals with disabilities in elections for Federal office. For purposes of this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives; the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate; the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.