Polling Place
Accessibility Grant Program Open for Applications
Current
application period ends on July 30, 2010:
Any and all buildings
used for polling place locations must meet the accessibility
requirements set forth under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If a building used for a polling place location cannot be made
accessible as stipulated under the ADA, the polling place must be moved
to a building which meets the ADA accessibility requirements.
In April 2005, the Department
introduced the Polling Place Accessibility Improvement Program - a grant
program which Michigan's cities and townships can use to recover the
costs they incur in making their polling places ADA compliant. The
grant program is funded through the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (Title
II, Section 261; CFDA 93.617). The Department of State's Bureau of
Elections is responsible for overseeing the grant process.
As there are still a number of
jurisdictions that could benefit from the grant program and grant funds
remain available, a new grant application period was opened in May. The
application window ends on July 30, 2010.
Complete
information on the application process can be found on the Department of
State's Web site
www.Michigan.gov/sos. Click on "Elections in Michigan"; on
the Elections in Michigan page, click on "Information for Election
Administrators." The "Polling Place Improvement Grant Program
Application" appears at the top of the page.
City and township clerks
who have any questions regarding the grant program are encouraged to
contact David Foster of the Michgian Department of State's Bureau of
Elections. Phone: (517) 373-2540. E-mail:
FosterD2@Michigan.gov.
