<NEWS RELEASE>

St. Paul, MN -- Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today (Thursday, Aug. 27) announced the availability of federal grant funding to help local governments improve disability access to their polling locations.

"I am pleased that we will be able to provide these needed funds to local governments," Ritchie said. "Anyone who is eligible to vote should not have to confront accessibility hurdles at the polls to participate in their democracy."

The Office of the Secretary of State is currently soliciting grant proposals from cities, townships, and counties. The office has been allocated $365,000 to distribute to local governments to pay for polling place accessibility improvements for individuals with disabilities and for polling place enhancements to allow individuals with disabilities to vote privately and independently. In previous years when grants were available, individual grant amounts ranged from about $100 to $6,000.

Grant money may be used for physical accessibility improvements to polling places, such as automatic door openers and disability parking spaces. Polling place enhancements include accessible voting booths and magnifiers to permit privacy and independence for voters. Grant funds are meant for the specific purpose of improving polling place accessibility for voters with disabilities, not for general improvements to structures.

Grants are provided through the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, funded through the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Development Disabilities, Administration for Children and Families, Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities.

The Office of the Secretary of State, in collaboration with the Minnesota State Council on Disability, developed a diagnostic tool as an aid for local government officials to use in self-assessing the accessibility of their polling places. The diagnostic tool addresses parking, exterior and interior pathways, restrooms, as well as the actual voting experience.  

If eligible needs are identified, local officials are encouraged to apply. Information on how to apply is online at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=763. Applications are due to the Office of the Secretary of State by 4:00 p.m. on November 2, 2009. Grants will be announced in December. All improvements must be completed no later than August 6, 2010.

Local government officials interested in the grant program may also contact Adam Aanerud at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (651) 556-0644.