When a physically handicapped voter votes at the office of the clerk or at an alternative voting place, that voter shall vote by absentee ballot and the method of voting must be the same as in section 754-A. If the municipality has a central voting place, then the handicapped voter may vote there using a regular ballot for the applicable voting district. If an alternative voting place is designated, the clerk shall furnish a reasonable number of absentee ballots and return envelopes to the warden. When the clerk or the warden receives such a ballot, the clerk or warden shall follow, as far as applicable, the same procedure prescribed in subchapter IV for the clerk to follow in handling absentee ballots.

3. Alternative paper ballots. At all voting places which are equipped with voting machines, paper ballots must be provided for use by voters who are physically unable to operate a voting machine.

SUMMARY

Current law, since 1985, has required each municipality to provide at least one voting place that is accessible to persons with physical handicaps or impairments. Voters utilizing such accessible voting places may use absentee ballots or be treated differently from other voters. This bill requires such access at all voting places.