Precinct consolidation is not a partisan issue, it is a civil rights issue. The proposed precinct consolidation is disturbing for many reasons, the main three being; Lake County’s sole targeting in this proposal, no concrete definition of “active voter” in House Enroll Act 1383 and no mention of a transition plan to keep the state in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act if this consolidation progresses.
(Jessica Renslow, Zully JF Alvarado and Gretchen Sipp accepting the 2018 Urban League Of Northwest Indiana Inc.'s Award for Diversity and Inclusion. )
Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson has given Lake County residents until July 13, 2018 to send her input about the changes she will enforce by August 1, 2018. She can be contacted via email at sos@sos.in.gov or telephone at 317-232-6532.
Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the nation and it is true that Lake County’s turnout is in align with this terrible trend. My question for the Secretary of State, Representative Salger (R), Representative Hatfield (D), Representative Richardson (R) and Senator Niemeyer (R) is why is Lake County the only county with precincts being targeted when it is not the only one with population shifts?
If this were truly about being fiscally responsible every county in Indiana would have to prove that all their precincts have 600 active voters to stay intact. Additionally, House Enroll Act 1383 is so vague it does not define what an "active voter" even is. Who and how is this going to be determined? Will this proposed consolidation actually be financially beneficial? Have all the laws and facts been taken into consideration?
Has anyone reviewed the financial strain this consolidation might lead to? The assumption is it will reduce costs during elections. It does not sound like anyone has considered the rise in costs. Access to polls, no matter the number of polling places there are, is protected under Title II of the ADA.
Title II (State and Local Government) The Department of Justice’s regulation implementing Tittle II, subtitle A, of the ADA which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all services, programs and activities provided to the public by State and local governments. It clarifies the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended for public transportation systems that receive federal financial assistance and extends coverage to all public entities that provide public transportation, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance. It establishes detailed standards for the operation of public transit systems, including commuter and intercity rail.
Currently, our para transit does not have the ability to support the influx of population this consolidation would require. With an estimated 1 in 5 homes in the US having a person with a disability residing in it, a county the size of Lake would be dramatically affected by a precinct consolidation.
Such disregard for Title II of the ADA is a little shocking coming from both Representative Salger and Senator Niemeyer. These two legislators were instrumental in getting House Enrollment Act 1144 (the controversial double tracking and West Lake corridor improvement project for the South Shore Line) pushed through. As someone who testified in favor of 1144, due to the level of access and code alignment it would bring to Gary, I find this duplicity hypocritical. The authors of this proposal are preying on Lake County voters who have limited access to resources. Voter suppression, or even repression may seem like a thing of the distant past, but sadly it is blatantly coming back to life in Indiana.
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Jessica Renslow is cohosting a weekly radio program on WLTH 1370 AM with Cliff Caldwell and Jeremy Yancey. Issues and Answers airs live Wednesdays from 6-8pm. You can call in by dialing (219) 794-1371. They promote civil discourse and spirited discussions about local, state and federal topics.
