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The Florida Senate

2004 Florida Statutes

SECTION 715
Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability.
Section 101.715, Florida Statutes 2004

1101.715  Accessibility of polling places for people having a disability.--

(1)  All polling places must be accessible and usable by people with disabilities, as provided in this section.

(2)  Only those polling places complying with the Florida Americans With Disabilities Accessibility Implementation Act, ss. 553.501-553.513, for all portions of the polling place or the structure in which it is located that voters traverse going to and from the polling place and during the voting process, regardless of the age or function of the building, shall be used for federal, state, and local elections.

(3)  The selection of a polling site must ensure accessibility with respect to the following accessible elements, spaces, scope, and technical requirements: accessible route, space allowance and reach ranges, protruding objects, ground and floor surfaces, parking and passenger loading zones, curb ramps, ramps, stairs, elevators, platform lifts, doors, entrances, path of egress, controls and operating mechanisms, signage, and all other minimum requirements.

(4)  Standards required at each polling place, regardless of the age of the building or function of the building, include:

(a)  For polling places that provide parking spaces for voters, one or more signed accessible parking spaces for disabled persons.

(b)  Signage identifying an accessible path of travel to the polling place if it differs from the primary route or entrance.

(c)  An unobstructed path of travel to the polling place.

(d)  Level, firm, stable, and slip-resistant surfaces.

(e)  An unobstructed area for voting.

(f)  Sufficient lighting along the accessible path of travel and within the polling place.

(5)  The Department of State may adopt rules in accordance with s. 120.54 which are necessary to administer this section.

History.--s. 1, ch. 76-50; s. 16, ch. 2002-281.

1Note.--Section 17, ch. 2002-281, provides that:

"(1)  By September 1, 2003, each polling place in a county should be surveyed by the supervisor of elections of that county for the purpose of determining accessibility under the standards to be adopted pursuant to s. 101.715, Florida Statutes, on July 1, 2004, using a survey developed by rule of the Department of State.

"(2)  The results of this survey shall be presented by the Division of Elections by December 1, 2003, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must note any polling places that will not meet the accessibility standards to be adopted on July 1, 2004, and shall state the specific reasons why those polling places may not be brought into compliance by that date. For each polling place that may not be brought into compliance by that date, the supervisor of elections must certify that fact to the Division of Elections and shall be granted a variance for that polling place until the primary and general elections in 2006."