Article Image Alt Text

Volunteers needed to help improve precinct accessibility

By Anita Reding
Managing Editor
Labor and materials were donated to make the Haskell County Election Board entrance handicap accessible, and election board officials are hoping others will provide much-needed similar assistance for the county’s polling locations.
Polling location accessibility is a major goal of the Haskell County Election Board, said Rhonda Hurst, election board secretary.
The Oklahoma State Election board has developed a program to implement the requirements of the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act.
The Adopt a Precinct Program seeks to improve the accessibility of all polling locations in the state.
Local business owner Rick Bumpers provided the labor and much of the materials to make the election board entrance accessible, said Hurst. Work is still needed on seven of the county’s 11 precincts, she added.
“This program will be very much a community effort because of funding and manpower limitations of the election board. We will be seeking the assistance of civic, church, school and community groups, businesses and volunteers to make greater accessibility a reality in Haskell County. This is a great opportunity to provide a needed service to the disabled, and I know our community will respond with a helping hand,” Hurst said.
“The state election board has developed an award program to recognize participation in the program, and we hope to have many award recipients in Haskell County,” she said.
Assistance needed to make all precinct locations in the county handicap accessible includes constructing designated parking areas, signage, sidewalks and ramps, Hurst said.
Groups, businesses and volunteers who wish to become involved in the Adopt a Precinct Program are urged to contact the Haskell County Election Board:  918-967-8792; 202 E. Main St. Suite 1 (county courthouse annex), in Stigler.
 

Staff photo by Anita Reding
Thanks to donations, this entrance to the Haskell County Election Board is handicap accessible. Similar donations are being requested so that all precinct locations will be handicap accessible.

Stigler News-Sentinel

204 S. Broadway
Stigler, OK 74462

918­-967­-4655
Fax: 918-­967­-4289