Polling Place GuideNew Haven, CT
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All topics · Topic 5 of 13 · Likely during any visit

Can everyone get into the polling place?

Physical Accessibility

A polling place must have an accessible way in and an accessible way to the voting area. The entrance, the path and the doors are things any voter can look at.

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A cutaway of an accessible school entrance: a gentle ramp with handrails, an open double door, and a clear route to the check-in table inside. A large cross-section drawing. Outside, a sidewalk leads to a ramp with handrails on both sides, next to a few steps. A sign with the wheelchair symbol points to the ramp. Both doors are propped open. Inside, a wide clear corridor marked by a dotted line leads to the check-in table. A voter in a wheelchair is halfway up the ramp and a worker holds the door. Small labels call out the ramp, the open doors, and the clear route.
Describe this illustration

A large cross-section drawing. Outside, a sidewalk leads to a ramp with handrails on both sides, next to a few steps. A sign with the wheelchair symbol points to the ramp. Both doors are propped open. Inside, a wide clear corridor marked by a dotted line leads to the check-in table. A voter in a wheelchair is halfway up the ramp and a worker holds the door. Small labels call out the ramp, the open doors, and the clear route.

Things you may notice

Things you may notice about physical access.

  1. An accessible entrance is clearly marked and usable.

    For example: A sign at the main door points to the accessible entrance, and that door is unlocked and opens.

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    If the main entrance has steps, there must be an accessible route to another entrance that is open throughout voting hours and signed so people can find it.

    The law behind this: ADA Title II · ADA Title II regulations · DOJ polling-place accessibility checklist · Connecticut election law (Title 9), § 9-168d: accessible polling places

  2. Walkways and ramps are free of obstacles.

    For example: No cones, tables, cables or parked cars block the ramp or the path from the sidewalk.

    Share an observation

    The law behind this: ADA Title II · DOJ polling-place accessibility checklist · 2010 ADA Standards

  3. Voters using wheelchairs or walkers can reach check-in.

    For example: A voter in a wheelchair rolls from the door to the check-in table without needing to be lifted or carried.

    Share an observation

    The law behind this: ADA Title II · Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act · Connecticut election law (Title 9), § 9-168d: accessible polling places

  4. Doors and pathways provide room for mobility devices.

    For example: Both leaves of a double door are open, or a single door is wide enough for a wheelchair to pass.

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    The federal standard for a door's clear opening is generally at least 32 inches, and an accessible route is generally at least 36 inches wide. You do not need to measure; note if someone could not get through.

    The law behind this: 2010 ADA Standards · DOJ polling-place accessibility checklist

  5. Poll workers respond when someone requests an accessibility accommodation.

    For example: A voter who cannot climb the steps is offered the accessible entrance or curbside help, and a worker goes with them.

    Share an observation

    The law behind this: ADA Title II · ADA Title II regulations · Accessible voting in Connecticut

Notice something different? Write down what you personally saw or heard, including the time and location. You can ask an election official for help.

Why it matters

A single step, a locked side door or a blocked ramp can keep a person from voting at all. These are the easiest things to see and the easiest for officials to fix once they know.

What one visit cannot tell you

  • Whether a ramp's slope or a threshold's height meets the exact federal measurements. That needs a tape measure and the standards.
  • Whether a site received a lawful waiver or has an approved alternative. A step at the front door is not a violation if a signed, open accessible entrance exists.
In Connecticut
  • Connecticut law (§ 9-168d) requires polling places to meet State Building Code accessibility standards, and § 9-168e requires accessible parking spaces where space is available. (Connecticut election law (Title 9))
What the law actually says

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 12131–12134) and its regulations at 28 CFR Part 35 require state and local governments to make voting accessible. The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act (52 U.S.C. §§ 20101–20107) requires accessible polling places for federal elections. The Department of Justice publishes a checklist with the measurements used to evaluate polling places.

Connecticut's rule

Connecticut General Statutes § 9-168d requires registrars to choose polling places that meet State Building Code accessibility standards, and § 9-168e requires designated accessible parking spaces where parking is available.

Related legal authorities
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