Oct. 16, 2018
HARRISBURG – To address the problems encountered by many Pennsylvanians who have difficulty accessing their polling places, Rep. Eric Roe (R-Chester) introduced legislation to allow curbside voting for people with disabilities as already permitted in 24 other states.
“In 2014, I witnessed a disabled 95-year-old voter attempt to enter his polling place in East Bradford Township without a wheelchair. Neither this gentleman, nor his son who accompanied him, had brought a wheelchair, so we had to wheel him inside using an office chair while holding his legs up,” Roe said. “This is just one example of why it’s important to provide fair access to all, even when disabilities threaten to impede that access.”
Under Roe’s
House Bill 2660, a qualified voter who has a physical, emotional, intellectual or developmental disability but has not requested an absentee ballot may request a ballot outside his or her polling place. The ballot must be completed within 150 feet of the entrance of the polling place and in an election official’s presence while concealing the vote. The election official would immediately return to the polling place and deposit it in the ballot container.
An election district that has an electronic voting machine that is easily portable may use the voting machine instead of a printed ballot.
“This would provide better service to people with disabilities, significantly help our aging population who use wheelchairs and/or walkers, and encourage more people to come to their polling place to vote,” Roe added.
Representative Eric Roe
158th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Alison Evans
717.260.6206
aevans@pahousegop.com
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