This week, several Georgia disability advocates responded to reports that seven of nine polling places would be closed in rural Randolph County, Georgia due to polling places allegedly not being in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Randolph County has a population of nearly 8,000 and the precincts being discussed serve populations of voters that are over 50 percent Black, and these sudden closures have triggered concerns by many groups that the ADA is being misused and that these closures will disenfranchise voters of color. Many voters would reportedly have to walk miles to get to their new polling place, and there is no public transportation system in Randolph County.
In a statement, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia and several Georgia CILs joined together to demand an explanation for these proposed closures. The statement reads, “alleging non-compliance with the ADA in the 11th hour to justify the removal of other individuals’ rights flies in the face of the intention behind the ADA of promoting access for all. The SILC and CILs of Georgia stand firm with REV UP Georgia in the rejection of this justification.
Several other grassroots disability advocacy groups in Georgia have responded to the polling place closures. Below is a roundup of statements from the disability community on Randolph County:
