Tennessee § 2-3-109 - Voters with disabilities and elderly voters.

§ 2-3-109. Voters with disabilities and elderly voters.

Pursuant to the provisions of Public Law 98-435 of the 98th Congress, it is the legislative intent, by enactment of this legislation, to improve access for elderly voters and voters with disabilities to registration facilities and polling places. For the purposes of this section: “Elderly voter” means any voter sixty (60) years of age or older; and “Voter with a disability” or “voters with disabilities” means any person or persons whose disability meets the definition of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq. Every building which houses a county election commission office shall be accessible to elderly voters and voters with disabilities by construction of ramps or other appropriate means. All voting precincts shall be made accessible to elderly voters and voters with disabilities, unless the state election commission and state election coordinator shall, in their sole discretion, determine that the precinct cannot reasonably be made accessible to the elderly voters and voters with disabilities. Each county election commission shall furnish to the coordinator of elections, at the coordinator of election's request, a listing setting forth which polling places in the county are accessible and which are not. If a building suitable for use as a polling place which is accessible is available, such building shall be designated as the polling place for that voting precinct. Not later than forty-five (45) days before any election, the county election commission shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation a notice advising any elderly voter or voter with a disability that if such voter's polling place is inaccessible, such voter has the right to vote early by absentee ballot or at the election commission office on election day. Elderly voters or voters with disabilities assigned to vote in precincts wherein the polling place is not accessible may vote at the election commission office on election day. Such voter shall complete an affidavit at the election commission office stating that such voter's designated voting location, to the best of the voter's knowledge, does not comply with Public Law 98-435 of the 98th Congress. The affidavit must be received by the county election commission not less than ten (10) days prior to the first election in which the elderly voter or voter with a disability plans to vote at the election commission office on election day. The election commission shall maintain a record of all affidavits completed pursuant to this subsection (e) and shall not require a voter to complete more than one (1) such affidavit unless the voter's precinct changes from the precinct cited in the affidavit on file. Upon receipt of such affidavit, the administrator of elections shall remove the voter's duplicate permanent registration card from the precinct binder and place the same in an alphabetical book to be used at the election office on election day. The election commission may allow persons voting hereunder to vote on paper ballot or on voting machines, in the discretion of the voting commission. As an alternative to voting at the election commission office on election day, an elderly voter or voter with a disability assigned to vote in a precinct where the polling place is inaccessible may vote by absentee ballot or during the early voting period subject to the provisions of § 2-2-115(b)(7). Each county election commission shall be responsible for notifying the officer of election on election day of any elderly voter or voter with a disability who votes at the election commission office. The state election coordinator shall ensure that each county election commission takes the necessary steps to notify the voting precinct of the elderly voter or voter with a disability of the filing of the voter's affidavit for future elections. The state election coordinator shall ensure that each county election commission takes the necessary steps and secures adequate facilities and supplies to carry out the requirements of this section. All the rights given and provisions made under this section are in addition to any voting rights or procedures which already are in existence relative to elderly voters or voters with disabilities, and no provision or part hereof shall be deemed to restrict or diminish any such rights or procedures. Acts 1985, ch. 72, §§ 1-9; 1991, ch. 184, §§ 1, 2; 1994, ch. 859, § 7; 1996, ch. 617, §§ 1, 2; 2000, ch. 756, §§ 4, 5; 2004, ch. 480, §§ 2, 3; 2007, ch. 48, §§ 1, 2; 2014, ch. 724, § 6. Compiler's Notes. Public Law 98-435, referred to in this section, is known as the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, and is codified as 42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq. References to the county “registrar-at-large” and “deputy registrar” have been changed to “administrator of elections” and “deputy”, respectively, pursuant to Acts 1997, ch. 558, §§ 21 and 22. Amendments. The 2014 amendment substituted “sixty (60) years of age” for “sixty-five (65) years of age” in (b)(1). Effective Dates. Acts 2014, ch. 724, § 12. April 16, 2014. Cross-References. Early voting, title 2, ch. 6, part 1. Newspaper of general circulation defined, § 2-1-104 .