Tape prevented access to polling site, woman says

Officials said the tape would have been removed had they been informed about the problem.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

BROOKFIELD — An elderly township woman headed out to the polls Tuesday set to cast her ballot, but that plan was thwarted by yellow caution tape and a walk too great in distance for her legs to make it.

Mary Kolat, 77, of Warner Road, said she went to Brookfield Middle School, her designated voting station, the day of the election — but was shocked to find out she would have trouble finding a place to park.

“We usually park in the handicapped spots, but they had that all roped off with that yellow tape. The only place you could go was over to the big parking lot, and walking from there is hard when you have problems walking,” she said.

Kolat said she tried to explain her situation to anyone in the parking lot in charge, but was simply directed to the designated parking area. Once she realized the handicapped parking would not be made available, she left without casting her vote.

Kolat said a handicapped placard is clearly displayed in her vehicle.

Trumbull County Board of Elections Director Kelly Pallante said she knew nothing about the roped-off handicapped parking spaces.

Kolat had spoken with a part-time employee at the board of elections on election night, and Pallante did not hear of the situation until the next morning.

“We were under the impression that the handicapped parking would be available,” Pallante said. “I did not know there was a problem. No one brought this to my attention or else I would have addressed it.”

Pallante said she spoke with an official at Brookfield schools Wednesday and learned that school officials were not aware that the handicapped parking was roped off, calling the parking situation an oversight that would not happen again.

She said it is unclear, at this point, who actually roped the area off.

According to Pallante, state law mandates that polling stations offer handicapped parking — something her office verified before using the school facility.

She said state law also says that if a voter makes it to the building and is unable to park and leave the car, poll workers are to bring the voting materials to the vehicle so the individual can cast a paper ballot.

Election officials have not received any other complaints about the roped-off parking spaces yet, but Pallante said it is imperative that voters inform her office of any problems at polling stations immediately so those problems can be corrected and everyone can have a chance to vote.

Kolat did not make it back to the polls to vote Tuesday but was given the option of using an absentee ballot in the next election to avoid any issues at the polls.

jgoodwin@vindy.com