Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 31 - ELECTIONS › Part I - Election Process › Chapter 1 - Polling Place Accessibility for the Elderly and Individuals with Disabilities › Section I-105 - Guidelines for Accessibility

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. To be accessible to the elderly
				and individuals with disabilities, the polling place must have at
				least one circulation route that encompasses an exterior circulation
				route, ramps, entrances, doors, doorways, an interior circulation
				route, and may include elevators which meet the following criteria.
1. Exterior Circulation Routes.
				There shall be at least one path of travel at least 36 inches wide
				within the boundary of the site that shall have no steps, abrupt
				changes or slopes greater than 1:12 from the public transportation
				stops, accessible parking areas, accessible passenger loading zones,
				and public streets and sidewalks to an accessible entrance of the
				polling place building or facility. The accessible route shall, to
				the maximum extent feasible, coincide with the route for the general
				public.
Click Here To
				  View Image
Notes for this illustration of an accessible
				  entrance to a polling place with accessible parking and an accessible
				  drop-off area:
1. Accessible route.
2. Accessible drop-off area.
3. Accessible parking with van accessible parking
				  space.
4. Accessible entrance to polling places.
Click Here To
				  View Image
Notes for this illustration of an accessible
				  entrance for individuals who are visually impaired or blind:
1. The bottom of the handrail extensions turn down
				  so a person who is visually impaired or blind can detect the hazard
				  before running into it.
2. Signs or other objects in the pedestrian route
				  can be a hazard if the bottom is more than 27 inches but less than 80
				  inches above the route.
3. Objects that overhang the pedestrian route must
				  be at least 80 inches above the route.
a. Accessible Parking
i. If parking areas are provided as
				part of the premises used as a polling place by voters, the polling
				place shall have accessible parking spaces specifically designated
				for individuals with disabilities located as close as possible to an
				accessible entrance, as described below, an access aisle located
				parallel and adjacent to the accessible parking space, and an
				accessible path of travel to the polling place building or facility.
				An accessible parking space must be signed with the International
				Symbol for Accessibility that is clearly visible over the hood of a
				vehicle.
Total Spaces for Polling Place
Required Minimum Number of
							 Accessible Spaces
1 - 25
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle
26 - 50
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + one car, van, or universal accessible space w/access
							 aisle
51 - 75
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + two car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
76 - 100
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + three car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
101 - 150
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + four car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
151 - 200
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + five car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
201 - 300
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + six car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
301 - 400
One van or universal accessible space
							 w/access aisle + seven car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisles
401 - 500
Two van or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisle + seven car, van, or universal accessible spaces
							 w/access aisle
501 - 1000
2 percent of total shall be accessible
							 spaces, with 1 van or universal accessible space for every 8
							 accessible parking spaces
All three examples illustrated below show two
				  accessible spaces with an accessible aisle and route.
Click Here To
				  View Image
ii. The accessible parking and
				access aisle should be relatively level with no more than a 1:50
				slope.
iii. At least one
				van accessible or universal parking space with an adjacent access
				aisle must be provided. The access aisle should connect directly to
				an accessible route that leads to an accessible entrance. The
				accessible aisle must be relatively level, clear of gravel or mud,
				and the surface must be in good condition without wide cracks or
				broken pavement. If an accessible route crosses a curb, a curb ramp
				must be provided.
iv. If
				the total number of parking spaces for a polling place requires only
				one accessible parking space, it must be either a van-accessible
				parking space or a universal parking space.
v. A van-accessible space shall be
				at least 96 inches wide with an adjacent access aisle that shall also
				be at least 96 inches wide.
vi. A universal parking space shall
				be at least 132 inches wide with an adjacent access aisle that shall
				be at least 60 inches wide.
vii. The vertical clearance for the
				vehicle route to the van-accessible or universal parking space, the
				parking space, access aisle and exit route shall be at least 98
				inches in height.
viii.
				If the total number of parking spaces for a polling place require
				more than one accessible parking space, then one parking space must
				be a van-accessible or universal parking space and the other may be a
				van-accessible, universal, or car accessible parking space. A car
				accessible parking space shall be at least 96 inches wide with an
				adjacent access aisle that shall also be at least 60 inches wide.
				Accessible parking spaces may share an adjacent access aisle provided
				that the access aisle is at least 60 inches wide.
ix. If general parking is provided
				on the premises, but no spaces are designated as accessible parking,
				then a temporary accessible parking space must be created by
				combining existing adjoining parking spaces to make an accessible
				parking space and access aisle subject to the provisions set forth
				above in Clauses i-viii. The temporary accessible parking shall be
				marked off with cones or other temporary elements.
Click Here To
				  View Image
Three standard parking spaces are converted into an
				  accessible parking space with an access aisle. Cones mark the access
				  aisle and a temporary curb ramp with edge protection connects to an
				  accessible route to the polling place.
x. Polling places that only provide
				street parking must clearly mark and sign an accessible parking space
				located as close as possible to an accessible route and polling place
				entrance. Either a curb-cut or ramp which connects directly to an
				accessible route must be provided.
xi. An accessible parking area
				which uses a portion of the general parking area as part of the
				exterior circulation accessible route that connects the accessible
				aisle to the accessible entrance must clearly delineate the access
				route which traverses the parking lot as a crosswalk.
xii. Accessible polling places can
				sometimes only be reached by traveling on gravel or other surfaces
				that are inhospitable to wheelchairs, walkers, and cane users. In
				these situations, an access aisle must be made accessible through the
				use of securely placed non-slip plywood, decking, or matting of
				sufficient thickness, which smoothes out the surface of the access
				aisle.
xiii. If general
				parking is not provided, every effort shall be made to set aside
				and/or reserve a temporary parking area for voters with disabilities.
Notes for this illustration: Van-accessible parking
				  spaces serve both cars and vans. A 96" access aisle is needed so a
				  wheelchair lift may be lowered from the van onto the level
				  surface.