As the county's central polling location, the Cayuga County Board of Elections needs to be accessible.

Currently it can be difficult for disabled people to park and enter the building, but the Board of Elections is looking to make upgrades as soon as possible.

On Tuesday night, the Public Works Committee authorized county officials to request design proposals for handicapped-accessible entrances for the Board of Elections and Records Retention offices.

“We're just going out for proposals,” said Cayuga County Manager Wayne Allen.

The federal Help America Vote Act mandates that all polling places be handicapped accessible pursuant to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The county's Court Street, Auburn, building is a polling site for absentee, affidavit and ballots voted on the Populex voting machine for the disabled. Currently, the building entrances don't meet the ADA requirements.

Democratic Deputy Elections Commissioner Deborah Calarco, who is heading the project, said Wednesday she began planning for the changes a year ago. Yet, when the BOE was closed due to asbestos contamination last summer, the plans were lost.

“We're looking at several things to become in compliance with the ADA,” Calarco said. “But we're only in the beginning stages.”

Included in the upgrades are plans to improve the parking lot by adding handicapped spots, installing a ramp and repairing the landing, Calarco said. She also said new handicapped accessible doors will be installed, providing access to both the Board of Elections and Records Retention.

According to the resolution, upgrades will cost roughly $26,000, paid for in the BOE budget. HAVA also provides grant funding administered through the state BOE, requiring a 5 percent local match.

Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net