Res. No. 1030 Title Resolution urging the Senate to pass and the Governor to sign State Assembly Bill 5473-A (A.5473-A), a bill that would amend the current election law to require all polling places be accessible to voters with physical disabilities. Body By Council Members Perkins, Addabbo, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Foster, Gennaro, Jackson, Liu, Quinn, Reed, Rivera, Seabrook, Sears, Weprin, Yassky and Gentile Whereas, The 2000 presidential elections and the subsequent vote recount ignited scrutiny of the adequacy of voting standards throughout the nation and precipitated voluminous discussion on a wide range of topics, including voter access to polls, registration and registration roll issues, voter discrimination and lost vote rates; and Whereas, Voters with disabilities have been systematically denied their fundamental constitutional right to vote because the State's polling places are ill equipped to provide basic access for people with physical disabilities; and Whereas, Assembly Member Kevin A. Cahill introduced Assembly Bill 5473-A ("A.5473-A"), a bill that would amend the current election law to require that all polling places be accessible to people with physical disabilities consistent with the accessibility guidelines set forth in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act; and Whereas, The New York State Assembly passed A.5473-A on June 11, 2003, whereupon it was delivered to the Senate; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the Senate to pass and the Governor to sign State Assembly Bill 5473-A (A.5473-A), a bill that would amend the current election law to require that all polling places be accessible to people with physical disabilities consistent with the accessibility guidelines set forth in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. LS# 2884 MT J 9/30/2003 3:39 PM