Disability advocates tell council many vote centers remain inaccessible ahead of 2026 elections

Disability Rights DC told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor that its November 2024 survey of 73 vote centers found nine structurally inaccessible locations and 40 operationally inaccessible sites, and that the Board of Elections planned to use at least nine sites known to be structurally inaccessible for the 2026 primary unless changes are made. Elizabeth Meyerholz, a DRDC staff attorney, said structural barriers include broken elevators, non‑compliant ramps, narrow doorways and blocked pathways, which can "wholly bar individuals with disabilities accessing vote centers," and requested the committee use its oversight to ensure remediation or relocation prior to the primary.

DRDC also urged a focused approach to the district’s rollout of ranked‑choice voting that includes direct outreach to nursing facilities, assisted‑living centers and congregate sites where residents often do not receive timely election information. "Not a single person" asked in recent outreach at nursing facilities had heard about RCV or received information from the Board of Elections, Meyerholz said. The group requested the committee press BOE and partner agencies to conduct accessibility surveys well in advance of site openings and to ensure adequate temporary ramps, signage and assistive devices at every vote center.

Committee members acknowledged the findings and said they would examine BOE plans in follow‑up, including requests that BOE provide updated accessibility survey results and any alternative vote‑center locations identified in collaboration with the Office of Disability Rights and DGS. The DRDC written survey and recommendations were entered into the hearing record for follow‑up oversight.