The Justice Department today announced a
settlement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the city of
Flint, Mich., to make all the city’s polling places more accessible for
individuals with mobility impairments.
The case was commenced based on a complaint from the Michigan Protection
and Advocacy Service, and was investigated jointly by the Civil Rights Division
and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Under the terms of the settlement, the city of
Flint recognizes that accessible polling places are the cornerstone of its
voting accessibility program and will make all of its polling places accessible
to people with disabilities by the November 2012 elections. The settlement also requires that
accessibility will be a major factor in the city’s choices of future polling
places. To assist Flint to make its
elections accessible, the Justice Department will provide technical assistance
to the city in deciding whether a polling place location can be made accessible
on Election Day.
“Voters with disabilities in the city of
Flint will now have the opportunity to exercise their franchise in the same way
as other voters in Flint,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for
the Civil Rights Division. “We applaud the city’s commitment in ensuring equal
access to the polls before the upcoming fall elections.”
“Voting is the foundation of democracy. This agreement will help ensure that people
with disabilities have the opportunity to cast their votes at polling places,
alongside their neighbors, and have their voices heard.” said Barbara L. McQuade,
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.
More information about this settlement and the
ADA is available at the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information line at
(800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and on the ADA website at www.ada.gov or
contact the U.S. Attorney’s civil rights hotline at 313-226-9151.
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