Kruzan Encourages Citizens With Disabilties And The Elderly To Vote

Kruzan Encourages Citizens With Disabilties And The Elderly To Vote

Date of Record: April 26, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2006

For more information, contact:
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN -- With less than a week until Primary Election Day, Mayor Mark Kruzan and David Carter, Chair of the Council for Community Accessibility (CCA), encourage all local citizens with disabilities and the elderly to participate in the political process and know that, in addition to a civic duty, they have special rights under the law designed to assist them in voting.

"Democracy's strength rests in the ability of all citizens to fully participate in the electoral process," Kruzan said. "The CCA and I want all people living with disabilities to know their voice should be heard in the political process."

The CCA is a volunteer group that advocates for the interests of people with disabilities.

"CCA works to develop solutions to problems of accessibility in the community," Carter said. "State and federal laws afford protections to the disabled community that we want everyone to know about."

Kruzan noted that state and federal law requires polling place accommodations to have accessible and unobstructed parking, entrances, and pathways.

"Anyone concerned that voting might be too challenging should rest assured that election officials and government protections have their best interest at heart," Kruzan said. "Elderly and disabled voters have the same right to participate and enjoy the same privacy and independence as any other voter."

Carter said that poll workers receive specific training and guidance to assist voters with disabilities. "Every person should feel welcome to exercise their rights," he said.

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