L.A. County agreed to rent an knowledgeable to make its voting websites extra accessible to voters with disabilities as a part of a settlement introduced Thursday with the U.S. Division of Justice.
Underneath the settlement, the county will rent a advisor for 3 years who makes a speciality of accessible design to assessment the county’s array of voting places and ensure they are often reached by all voters. The county additionally agreed to publicize its curbside voting program, during which an election employee will carry ballots on to voters on the road exterior voting websites, per the settlement.
“Voters with disabilities are entitled to an equal alternative to vote in individual, privately and independently, alongside their neighbors and pals,” stated U.S. Lawyer Martin Estrada in an announcement. “We commend Los Angeles County for its dedication to work with the Justice Division to make sure equal entry for people with disabilities.”
The DOJ sued the county final June, accusing officers of failing to make sure that voters with disabilities can get into polling locations and forged their poll throughout current elections.
In keeping with the lawsuit, the DOJ had surveyed county voting places and poll drop packing containers throughout elections since 2016 and routinely discovered websites that didn’t meet requirements set by the ADA, equivalent to an absence of accessible parking for vans and steep ramps with out handrails.
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Dean Logan stated in an announcement that no “systemic deficiencies” had been recognized throughout discovery, however that the county was challenged by outdated infrastructure.
“Our settlement with the DOJ is targeted on this problem — together with the intricacies of sidewalk slopes, public transit entry, and clear paths of journey resulting in voting areas,” the assertion stated. “Our mission has at all times been to supply truthful, accessible, and clear voting companies to the voters of Los Angeles County.”
