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Committee backs bill requiring accessible parking, curbside voting at vote centers
Summary
AB 287 would require public buildings used as vote centers to provide accessible parking and designated curbside voting space; the committee passed the bill unanimously after testimony from Los Angeles County election officials and disability-rights advocates and questions from school districts about implementation costs.
The California State Assembly Elections Committee on March 26 voted to pass AB 287, which would require vote centers and polling places that operate in public buildings to provide accessible parking and designated areas for curbside voting to accommodate voters with disabilities.
AB 287, introduced by Assemblymember Lackey, clarifies that when public buildings (including schools) are used as vote centers election officials may request and be provided adequate space for voting equipment, storage and accessible parking necessary to offer curbside voting. Los Angeles County election officials, who co-sponsored the measure, said many locations lack accessible parking and that curbside voting is not feasible without safe designated curbside parking.
Aaron Navarres, Assistant Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for Los Angeles County, told the committee that roughly one in four vote centers in Los Angeles County lacked a ready place to provide curbside or accessible parking. Eric Harris of Disability Rights California testified the bill closes a gap by ensuring that public facilities must make accessible spaces and curbside areas available when requested, which will help counties meet legal obligations to offer curbside voting.
Representatives from Los Angeles Unified School District registered as a "tweener" (neither full support nor opposition) and asked the author to accept amendments to account for older school sites with limited parking and to address reimbursement for costs or staff time for relocating or storing school equipment. The author and sponsors said they will continue to work with school districts to find workable solutions; committee members also encouraged collaboration to identify schools suitable for use as vote centers.
The committee voted to pass AB 287; the motion was seconded and recorded as unanimous among members present. Supporters said the bill is a targeted fix to improve ballot access for voters with disabilities; the committee referred the bill for the next steps in the legislative process.
