NEWS
HAVA Gives Money To Houston County Polls
Rhiana Huckins
Houston County is receiving some free grant money from "HAVA" or the Help America Vote Act. The money is given to areas across the country to help votes with disabilities, as news 4's Rhiana Huckins tells us, it's an important part of preparing the polls.
When it’s Election Day, many of us rush out to make sure your opinion counts but for those with disabilities, heading to the polls may be more of a challenge.
"We are all citizens, we all have rights, and its up to polling officials to make sure those rights are taken care of at the polling place" said Houston County Probate Judge Luke Cooley
That's why the Help America Vote Act issues out money to help polling places user friendly
"We have done a lot of great things with that including updating all of the bathrooms in our polling places to make them handicap accessible" said Judge Cooley.
This time around, the county will work on some smaller projects thanks to special packages containing material to help those who are disabled.
Items like magnifying mirrors, line markers, and written information for Houston County’s 250 poll workers so they know how to assist someone with disabilities.
"If they are leading a blind person, they will have to put them on their arm and lead them in" said Judge Cooley.
Probate judge Luke Cooley says she will be asking for about $2600 which will cover the cost and shipping of the handicap packages.
"We want to make it easy for people to get out and exercise that right. All of us are not as privileged as others with disabilities or language issues, and this allows everybody to have the same access to voting" says Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver
Since this is grant money, participation in the program will not cost Houston County a dime.
This is Houston County’s third disbursement
The next election in the county is expected to take place next June.
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