Supporting All Connecticut Voters Election Access Solutions for

Supporting All Connecticut Voters Election Access: Solutions for all Voting Places MICHELLE MROZKOWSKI, Election Services 1 -866 -232 -5487

Who We Are • Work with advocates and people with disabilities -- leading provider of accessibility solutions for elections • Work with 50 states, 250 solutions for polling place access • Assist with survey review, access solutions, accessible voting accessories and more • Provide solutions for all elements of disability access to elections • Support elections and polling places that are of universal design. • Provide other election services 1 -866 -232 -5487

Connecticut HHS Funding & HAVA Funding Connecticut is the only State in the US, other than mail-only, to not use one dime of HHS Funding to address physical access issues at polling places. Why? • Previous administration did not make it a priority • Challenges of Home Rule and registrars vs. clerks • Vendors not working with municipalities The Good News: It is possible to use discretionary HAVA funding, like KS and NY to purchase items to improve physical access. 1 -866 -232 -5487

Scope of Polling Place Access • GAO Report 2001 – 67% fully inaccessible • In the 2008 audit, the GAO estimated that 27% of polling places had no access barriers, including at parking, building entrances, or on the route to voting area. Improvement from 16% in 2000 • Common Challenges – Sites not controlled or operated by the town – Homes, churches or clubs not covered by ADA – And even ADA – Covered ones not always accessible – and you get blamed. – Political and Cost limitations 1 -866 -232 -5487

Polls Need Lower Cost, Temporary Solutions § Many locations are in private facilities (homes and churches) – not covered by the ADA, except on election day– election administrators don’t have control over facility. § Some public sites have not been made accessible § Public funds can’t be spent on private facilities for permanent changes 1 -866 -232 -5487

Why Temporary Solutions? • • • Permanent Changes – Large Up Front Cost – Not Allowed by Facility – Site Has Possibility of Changing Absentee is an option for voters with disabilities, but voters who want to vote in-person on election day MUST be allowed to do so. Sometimes the only appropriate building to use in a jurisdiction does not meet guidelines, but could, with a little help (improved signage, temporary accessible parking, curbside alert for assistance, voting booths of universal design) 1 -866 -232 -5487

CT’s Challenge: Ways to Meet It • Department of Health and Human Services has given $100, 000/year to CT for 6 years, which ends after 2011 - this money was contracted for maintenance for phone system, there is no money for physical access. • Unrestricted HAVA funds have been used for physical access also in NY, IL, NC, TN, KS • States have either made purchases for locales or allowed for special grant funding for physical access items. 1 -866 -232 -5487

So How Do Other States Do it? MODEL 1: Bulk Purchase: State Election Officials ask locals what they want for accessibility and buy it in bulk. This includes – – – – – New Hampshire Indiana (originally) Kansas Maryland Nebraska Oklahoma Hawaii Alaska Tennessee Nevada 1 -866 -232 -5487

Second Option MODEL 2: Allocated Funds Counties or Municipalities are earmarked a certain amount for access and must spend it on qualifying activities – Alabama – Illinois – Texas – New York 1 -866 -232 -5487

Third Option MODEL 3: Grant Application In the majority of states, counties or municipalities apply to the state for accessibility funds with proposals from vendors and state determines which projects are funded. Just a few states doing this include – Vermont, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arkansas, Georgia, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, California 1 -866 -232 -5487

Ideas for Products and Grants: Connecticut Survey Tools and Survey Kits • • We have provided cities and counties nationwide with dedicated survey kits to allow a resurvey of location with specific tools Survey Tools include – Smart tool level – ADA tape measure – Door pressure gauge – Door hardware sheet – CD Rom on surveying sites – Packed into a case 1 -866 -232 -5487

Polling Place Access Solutions For Connecticut Parking Lots • Unpaved lots – matting – Lack of Signage • Permanent and temporary signs – Lack of parking/access aisle • Stripe or set up cones – other products – Creation of accessible parking space 1 -866 -232 -5487

Additional Parking Solutions – Create accessible parking spaces where there are none. – Create street or lot parking. 1 -866 -232 -5487

Ramps: Many Different Types Available for All Types of Needs • • Thresholds – rubber and alumninum Suitcase Pathway w or w/o Handrails Level Landing 1 -866 -232 -5487

Signs • Directional, access route signs for entrances and path of travel 1 -866 -232 -5487

Door Hardware and Door Weight Solutions • Low-Cost Solutions – Tape thumb latch – Leave doors open – Door stop • Door Hardware Retrofits 1 -866 -232 -5487

Alert Systems for Door Hardware and Weight and Other Access Issues Alert systems • Allows voter to push button and request assistance with heavy door, bad door hardware, locked entrance, etc…. . (pushbutton oversized, ADA compliant) • Available in both permanent installs and temporary – that is packed in case, unpacked, brought out on election day. Over 10, 000 of them nationally 1 -866 -232 -5487

Alert Systems Solve Many Access Barriers • Level Entry – Door hardware and weight solution – Solves locked doors • Alternative Entry – Voter can request assistance with escort • Portable Ramp Entry 1 -866 -232 -5487

Other Helpful Solutions • Magnifiers (new Ballot. Mag designed for elections and paper ballots from the ground up) • Signature Guides • Complete Interior Accessibility Kits – some states have bought these for each polling location 1 -866 -232 -5487

Adequate Signage Vote Here With Symbol of Access • Designate accessible locations • Eligible for grants if symbol of access and sites are accessible • Bilingual available • Use in all precincts brings uniformity to exterior recognition. 1 -866 -232 -5487

Four Station Pak. Flatt Franklin Booth • Outstanding solutions for both accessibility and general purpose • The Franklin is the ideal voting booth for Connecticut – several counties have pioneered it • Appropriate for Vote Centers too! • Packs and stores small • Easy to set up • No removable parts to get lost 1 -866 -232 -5487

Universal Design/Non-Discriminatory • Solves issues for voters with and without disabilities – With the 4 station booth all go to same location – not a “separate” disability booth or system – Best for ultimate goal of access • Non-discriminatory • Preferred by disability advocates • Consistent with principle of “universal design” 1 -866 -232 -5487

Compatible with Paper or DRE Voting Booth Normally Used for Paper Voting – but can also be used with DRE 1 -866 -232 -5487

Durability • Booth is incredibly durable • Constructed of “Automotive”-grade aluminum • Booth is so strong it can support 200 lb person standing on shelf • It can handle the rigors of many elections and storage • Booths from 20 years ago are still going strong in Europe 1 -866 -232 -5487

Benefit: Latest and Greatest • Pak. Flatt and Inclusion Solutions have perfected the design • Proven 20 -year design on original silver booths • Booth refined and upgraded for use in the United States with: – – – Ultra rigid and durable shelf Additional durability for U. S. elections which impose abuse on products Improved components Ease of Setup New Color Scheme (Red White and Blue) 1 -866 -232 -5487

Benefit: Warranty & Service Best Warranty in the industry – For 3 years we will “swap out” any booths no questions asked (except deliberate damage) – Service at National Distribution Center in Virginia – Inclusion Solutions is also known for unmatched customer service and responsiveness 1 -866 -232 -5487

Benefit: Storage and Delivery • Booth stores in a fraction of the space of other booth styles • Packs into a very small footprint (roughly the same as for a single booth) • So small one can fit in the back of a car • Saves warehouse and storage costs/space 1 -866 -232 -5487

Benefit: Storage and Delivery Dozens or hundreds of booths can be stored in a small area 50 booths – or 200 voting stations fits in a surprisingly small area Westchester County, New York stores 837 booths or over 3, 330 stations in a limited warehouse area 1 -866 -232 -5487

Ease of Setup • Setup is in a matter of minutes and easy for pollworkers • Setup is intuitive – but Flyer and Video Cape Girardeau, Missouri sets up their 75 booths available 1 -866 -232 -5487

Comparison With Single Booths • With single booths, legs fall out, or can get misplaced • Pollworkers and staff frustrated at lost parts • Different configurations for “regular” and“handicapped” booths • To create 40 voter stations, you would need 40 booths, each one with five separate pieces (1 table, 4 legs): 200 pieces total Pak. Flatt Franklin • • • Booths are all single integrated unit No pieces to lose No more aggravated pollworkers or warehouse staff To create 40 voter stations, you would need 10 booths: 10 pieces total! 1/20 th the total number of parts 5 parts 1 -866 -232 -5487

Flexible Configurations • Connecticut’s precincts all are Configured Differently • But booth can be set up as 4 station, 3 station, or 2 station booth 1 -866 -232 -5487

Customization Booth Can Be Customized with Connecticut or County Seals 1 -866 -232 -5487

Curtain Accessories • Curtain System seamlessly integrates with booth • Optional Accessory – about 35% of customers add curtains 1 -866 -232 -5487

Dustcovers and Lights • Lights clip onto booth • Dustcover protects booth during storage and delivery • Version with Extended Shelf also available 1 -866 -232 -5487

Proven Success • Thousands of Units in Place Nationally in 28 states • Positive feedback from voters, pollworkers, advocates and election officials • Consistent feedback that it’s the best booth that election officials have ever had 1 -866 -232 -5487

Specifications • • • 61” to frame top 37. 5” to standard writing shelf 30” to seated accessible shelf 32” between outside legs Packed Dimensions 38. 5’ *9. 5’ * 25’ • Weight 44 lbs • Detailed specifications available for procurement 1 -866 -232 -5487

Pricing • Franklin 4 -Station Booth: • Franklin ext. Shelf • Customization: • Booth Curtain System • Light Set (pack of 4) • Shipping: $799 $879 $29. 95 $199 $99 Normally $62 each Surplus Original Silver Booths also available on clearance for $599 (but only 100 available) 1 -866 -232 -5487

Next Steps? • Option 1 – I can write you a quote • Option 2 – You can try it out for free • Buying booths is a big decision – we want you to have tried it out, shown to staff, & other key decision makers. • So we created the “Sale or Return Program” • You try out the booth for 30 days – if you don’t like it you return it and we pay return shipping • If you like it you can keep it an we will invoice you • Or you can request more 1 -866 -232 -5487

Interior Signs & Required Notices How do you -post materials in a uniform location? -not deface wall -not be too large for supply kit -have flexibility for different languages and text 1 -866 -232 -5487

Is Taping Signs Causing Problems? 1 -866 -232 -5487

Totem Display System: The Answer Unfolds to 6 feet tall and is self-standing Pockets allow you to customize content And it folds up small 1 -866 -232 -5487

Sale Or Return the Totem Just Complete the Form and We’ll send you one for review 1 -866 -232 -5487

Access and Inclusion Solutions • How Can Connecticut Meet the Requirements of Access? • Call us at 1 -866 -232 -5487 • mmrozkowski@ inclusionsolutions. com • Complete Form for Samples of booths or totems • We can help at every stage! 1 -866 -232 -5487