Sec. 9-168d. Accessibility of polling places to voters with physical disabilities. Certification. Waiver of requirements.

336 words·~2 min read·/ct/title-9/chapter-146-elections/9-168d

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(a)On or before July 1, 1980, each polling place shall be made accessible to and usable by persons with physical disabilities by complying with the following standards of accessibility:

(1)Doors, entrances, and exits used to gain access to or egress from the polling place shall have a minimum width of thirty-one inches;

(2)temporary ramps shall be made available or curb cuts provided where necessary for accessibility to the entrance;

(3)any stairs necessarily used to enter the polling place shall have a temporary handrail and ramp;

(4)in the polling place, no barrier shall impede the path of a person with physical disability to the voting booth.

(b)The registrars of voters in each town, or the legislative body of the town, shall select as polling places only those sites which meet the standards of accessibility required under the State Building Code, as revised pursuant to section 29-269 , if applicable, or this section. The registrars of voters in each town shall file with the Secretary of the State either:

(1)A certification, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State, that states that each polling place selected complies with the provisions set forth in this subsection, or

(2)an application for waiver, as described in subsection

(c)of this section.

(c)The registrars or such legislative body may select a site not meeting such standards if no available site within the voting district or town can reasonably be made accessible if an application for waiver is filed with and approved by the building official of the town who shall file a copy of such approval with the Secretary of the State. An application for waiver shall be filed at least sixty days prior to the date on which the primary or election will be held. The Secretary of the State shall, not later than thirty days after the waiver application is filed, file a written objection to such waiver if the Secretary has reason to believe such waiver should not be granted.