2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 9 - Elections
Chapter 146 - Elections
Section 9-168d - Accessibility of polling places to physically disabled voters. Certification. Waiver of requirements.

(a) On or before July 1, 1980, each polling place shall be made accessible to and usable by physically disabled persons by complying with the following standards of accessibility: (1) Doors, entrances, and exits used to gain access to or egress from the polling place shall have a minimum width of thirty-one inches; (2) temporary ramps shall be made available or curb cuts provided where necessary for accessibility to the entrance; (3) any stairs necessarily used to enter the polling place shall have a temporary handrail and ramp; (4) in the polling place, no barrier shall impede the path of the physically disabled to the voting booth.

(b) The registrars of voters in each town, or the legislative body of the town, shall select as polling places only those sites which meet the standards of accessibility required under the State Building Code, as revised pursuant to section 29-269, if applicable, or this section. The registrars of voters in each town shall file with the Secretary of the State either: (1) A certification, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State, that states that each polling place selected complies with the provisions set forth in this subsection, or (2) an application for waiver, as described in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The registrars or such legislative body may select a site not meeting such standards if no available site within the voting district or town can reasonably be made accessible if an application for waiver is filed with the Secretary of the State and approved by the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. An application for waiver shall be filed at least sixty days prior to the date on which the primary or election will be held. The Secretary of the State shall, within seven days after receipt of any such application, refer the application to said office of protection and advocacy. Said office shall, within thirty days, review the application and inform the Secretary of the State of its approval or disapproval. The Secretary of the State shall notify the applicant for waiver of such approval or disapproval within seven days after the secretary is so informed.

(P.A. 78-117, S. 1; P.A. 83-587, S. 10, 96; P.A. 84-319, S. 26, 49; P.A. 88-356, S. 1; 88-364, S. 12, 123; P.A. 89-144, S. 2; P.A. 06-137, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment to Subsec. (b), substituting reference to Sec. 29-269 for reference to Sec. 19-395a; P.A. 84-319 amended section to require approval of waiver application by office of protection and advocacy for handicapped and developmentally disabled persons; P.A. 88-356 and 88-364 amended Subsec. (b) to delete reference to “article 21” of the state building code; P.A. 89-144 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting the office of protection and advocacy for persons with disabilities for the office of protection and advocacy for handicapped and developmentally disabled persons; P.A. 06-137 amended Subsec. (b) to add requirement re filing of certification or waiver application with Secretary of the State, effective January 1, 2007.