Cobb Board of Elections and Registration Reaches Settlement with the Department of Justice to Improve Polling Site Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Marietta, GA (Sept. 19, 2024) – The Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration has unanimously approved a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to ensure that all polling places comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

"Earlier this year, the Board welcomed the DOJ and its experts to conduct a limited-scope compliance review, granting their request to visit 12 polling locations during the March Presidential Preference Primary," said Elections Board Chair Tori Silas. "Since learning of the preliminary results of the review in July, the Board, with the assistance of Elections Director Tate Fall and legal counsel Daniel White, has worked with the DOJ to prioritize and implement solutions to ensure all polling places are compliant. This collaborative process culminated in the settlement agreement, demonstrating the commitment of the Cobb County Board of Elections and Registration to ensuring elections are fully accessible to all registered voters in Cobb."

“The majority of the 12 polling sites reviewed by the DOJ earlier this year are churches, which are not legally required to meet ADA standards,” said Elections Director Tate Fall. “That presents a challenge in ensuring that all 148 precincts are compliant, but we have already started to work with the county to make the necessary changes.”

As part of the settlement, the Board of Elections and Registration will collaborate with the county to ensure all county-owned facilities are ADA-compliant. For locations not owned by the county, the Board will implement temporary measures to ensure accessibility. These may include portable ramps, traffic cones, signs, wedges, and door stops.

While the agreement does not require the relocation of polling sites for the November 2024 General Election, any future changes will also be reported to the DOJ as part of the settlement.