Item 4: Travis County Clerk's Office Presentation — original pdf

Backup

Travis County Clerk’s Office countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov County Clerk Dyana Limon-MercadoAccessibility Starts Before Election Day Convenient Locations Easy access Consistent and familiar Transportation and surrounding infrastructure Priority Locations Public facilities Schools Churches Traditional & unique locations Accessibility Considered for every potential site ADA surveys conducted Accessibility alongside logistics The DOJ Agreement: A Framework for Continuous Improvement 2020 DOJ surveyed 56 polling places. All 56 were found to have some barriers. In the following election Travis Co. proactively addressed some issues. 2021 County Clerk’s Office formaly creates ADA division Continued surveys & evaluating solutions 2022 Travis Co. & DOJ voluntarily enter into formal agreement 2024 Released from voluntary agreement Ongoing investment in ADA compliance DOJ’s Federal Guidelines & Requirements for & Remediating The agreement continues to inform how we approach accessibility today. Consistent ADA practices and methods Identifying and communicating specific deficiencies Providing guidance for corrective actions Working with entities and stakeholders on permanent solutions How Do We Define ADA Compliance? Sidewalks Entrance Voting Area *Our Standard U.S. Department of Justice ADA Checklist for Polling Places Parking/ Drop-Off Interior Route →→→How Do We Comply? Select Choose polling places with accessibility in mind. Survey Evaluate every site before each election. Remediate Address barriers with site-specific solutions. Prepare Provide equipment, signage, maps and instructions. What Does Accessibility Look Like in Practice? Accessible Route Minimum 36" width Parking Accessible spaces & access aisles Curb Cuts Accessible slope & transitions Entrances Door clearance & operation Thresholds Correcting level changes Clear Paths No hazardous obstructions  What Does Accessible Voting Look Like? ACCESSIBLE EQUIPMENT Tactile controls Headphones/audio Accessible voting interfaces CURBSIDE VOTING Voting without entering the polling place when necessary ALTERNATIVE INPUT Sip & puff and other assistive technology FLEXIBILITY Accommodating voters with mobility limitations Voters who cannot read or write, or who have a physical disability that prevents them from reading or marking the ballot, are entitled to assistance. A Person of Your Choice A voter may choose someone to assist them with voting. The person may not be the voter’s union representative or employer. The person assisting must sign an Oath of Assistance. Voter Assistance Election Workers Election workers may assist a voter by marking a ballot, reading the ballot, or helping the voter physically mark their selections on the ballot making device. In the Community Voting demonstrations Familiar Sites and Partnerships Texas School for the Blind Disability Rights Austin Resource Center for Independent Living (ARCIL) Mary Lee Foundation Austin Lighthouse Travis County Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Mary Lee Foundation Disability Rights Connect With Us Travis County Clerk @TravisCoClerk @TravisCountyClerk @Travis County Clerk @traviscountyclerk.bsky.social