Part 1. Typical Issues for Voters Who Use Wheelchairs, Scooters, or Other Mobility Devices
The interior accessible route connects the accessible entrance with the voting area. Typically made up of hallways, corridors, and interior rooms and spaces, the accessible route is essential for people who have difficulty walking or who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids to get to the voting area.
An accessible route is at least 36 inches wide and may narrow briefly to 32 inches wide where the route passes through doors or next to furniture and building elements. High thresholds, abrupt level changes, steps, or steeply sloped hallways cannot be part of an accessible route. Where ramps are used, they cannot be steeper than 1:12. Ramps with a vertical rise of more than 6 inches must have handrails on both sides. Ramps must also have edge protection to stop wheelchairs from falling off the sides, and level landings at the top and bottom of each segment and where a ramp changes direction.
Where an accessible route is different from the route used by most voters, signs will be needed at key decision points to direct voters with disabilities to the voting area.
Interior of a polling place showing the accessible route from the accessible entrance to the voting area.
Notes:
1. Accessible entrance
2. Accessible route connects the accessible entrance with the voting area.
3. Accessible door to the voting area
E1-1. Is there an accessible route, at least 36 inches wide that connects the accessible entrance to the voting area (the accessible route may narrow to 32 inches wide for up to 2 feet in length)?
Yes _____ No _____
E1-2. Is the accessible route free of steps and abrupt level changes over 1/2 inch (level changes between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch should be beveled)? [ADA Stds 4.1.3(1), 4.3.8]
Yes _____ No _____
E1-3. Does the route from the accessible entrance to the voting area change levels using a ramp, lift or elevator?
Yes _____ No _____
If no, go to question E1-7.
3a. If yes, is a ramp or sloped hallway provided?
Yes _____ No _____
If yes, go to question E1-4.
Note: A ramp, lift, or elevator can be used to provide access to floor levels.
3b. Is an elevator provided or lift provided?
Yes _____ No _____
If an elevator is provided, go to question E1-5. If a lift is provided, go to question E1-6.
E1-4. Where the slope of the accessible route is greater than 1:20, does this part of the accessible route meet the following requirements for an accessible ramp?
Yes _____ No _____
4a. Is the slope no greater than 1:12? [ADA Stds 4.8.2]
Yes _____ No _____
Note: For existing ramps, the slope may be 1:10 for a 6 inch rise and 1:8 for a 3 inch rise in special circumstances, see ADA Standards 4.1.6(3).
4b. Is the ramp width, measured between handrails, at least 36 inches?
[ADA Stds 4.8.3]
Yes _____ No _____
4c. Are the handrails mounted between 34 and 38 inches above the ramp surface?
[ADA Stds 4.8.5]
Yes _____ No _____
4d. If a ramp is more than 30 feet long, is a level landing at least 60 inches long provided every 30 feet of horizontal length? [ADA Stds 4.8.4]
Yes _____ No _____
Note: When the running slope is less than 1:16 and more than 1:20, each ramp segment may be up to 40 feet long followed by a level landing.
4e. Does the ramp have a level landing at the top and bottom of each ramp section that is at least 60 inches long? [ADA Stds 4.8.4]
Yes _____ No _____
Note: The level landing may be part of the sidewalk or walking surface.
4f. Is a level landing, at least 60 inches by 60 inches, provided where a ramp changes direction? [ADA Stds 4.8.4]
Yes _____ No _____
4g. If the ramp or landing has a vertical drop-off on either side of the ramp, is edge protection provided? [ADA Stds 4.8.7]
Yes _____ No _____
E1-5. Is an elevator provided to access the voting area level?
Yes _____ No _____
5a. Are the elevator call buttons mounted in an accessible location with the centerlines at 42 inches above the floor? [ADA Stds 4.10.3]
Yes _____ No _____
5b. Does the floor area of the elevator car provide space for wheelchair users to enter, reach the controls, and exit the car? [ADA Stds 4.10.9]
Note: See Figure 22 for acceptable floor and opening dimensions. Floor dimensions of at least 48 inches by 48 inches may be allowed in existing facilities built before the ADA went into effect.
5c. Are the highest floor control buttons in the elevator cab mounted no more than 54 inches above the floor for a side reach or 48 inches for forward reach?
Yes _____ No _____
5d. Are raised letters and Braille characters used to identify each floor button and each control? [ADA Stds 4.10.12]
Yes _____ No _____
5e. Are signs mounted on both sides of the elevator hoistway door opening that designate the floor with 2-inch minimum-height raised letters and Braille characters centered at 60 inches above the floor? [ADA Stds 4.10.5]
Yes _____ No _____
5f. Is the elevator equipped with audible tones or bells or verbal annunciators that announce each floor as it is passed? [ADA Stds 4.10.13]
E1-6. If a wheelchair lift is provided, does it meet the following requirements:
6a. Is the lift operational at the time of the survey?
Yes _____ No _____
6b. Is the change in level from the floor to the lift surface ramped or beveled?
Yes _____ No _____
6c. Is there at least a 30-inch by 48-inch clear floor space on the wheelchair lift?
Yes _____ No _____
6d. Does the lift allow a wheelchair user unassisted entry, operation, and exit?
Yes _____ No _____
6e. Are the controls and operating mechanisms mounted no more than 54 inches above the floor for a side reach or 48 inches for a forward reach?
Yes _____ No _____
6f. Are the controls and operating mechanisms usable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting?
E1-7. At each location on the way to the voting area where the accessible route passes
through a door or doors, does at least one door meet the following requirements?
Yes _____ No _____
7a. Is the clear width for the door opening at least 32 inches measured when the door is open 90 degrees? [ADA Stds 4.1.3(7), 4.13.5]
Yes _____ No _____
7b. Is the door hardware (e.g., lever, pull, push, panic bar) usable with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist, to allow people who may not be able to easily use one or both hands to fully operate the hardware?
[ADA Stds 4.13.9]
Yes _____ No _____
A clear floor space on the latch side of the door (pull side) allows a person using a wheelchair or scooter to pull the door open and then enter. The size of the clear floor space varies depending on the direction of approach (shown by the arrows) and the door swing.
7c. Is there clear maneuvering floor space in front of each accessible door (see Figure 25 in the appendix for measurements) and on the pull side, is there at least 18 inches clear floor space beyond the latch side of the door (see space configurations in Figure 25)? [ADA Stds 4.13.6]
7d. Is no more than 5 pounds force needed to push or pull open the accessible door?
Yes _____ No _____
Note: Fire doors are still considered to be accessible if they have the minimum opening force allowable by the appropriate administrative authority.
Yes _____ No _____
7e. If the answers to questions (b) thru (d) are no, can the door be propped open to provide an accessible route on election day?
Temporary Solutions for Election Day
Interior Hallways and Corridors to Voting Area
Problem 1:
One or more steps along hallway to voting area block access.
Suggestion: Install a portable ramp with edge protection and handrails as shown in the figure or relocate the accessible voting to another area that is on an accessible route.
A portable ramp with edge protection and handrails is placed over stairs to provide an accessible route on Election Day.
Problem 2:
Voting area is not on an accessible route and cannot be made accessible.
Suggestion: Look for another area where accessible voting may be provided. For example, if the living room of a private home used for voting is up several steps, perhaps the garage may be accessible when entered from the driveway. Or, if a church’s basement is used as a polling place and it is not accessible, perhaps one of the ground floor rooms could be used as the accessible voting area.
An accessible voting station is provided on an accessible level in a facility where voting occurs downstairs.
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