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Americans with Disabilities Act Author: Kemp Has Failed to Comply with ADA

Former Congressman Tony Coelho, Author of ADA, Says Kemp Associate Sought to Violate Federal Civil Rights Law

ATLANTA – Today, Tony Coelho, the principal author of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), condemned the voter suppression tactics of Republican candidate for governor Brian Kemp. Coelho said that Kemp, who refuses to step down from overseeing the election in which he is a candidate, has failed to comply with the ADA and protect the rights of Georgians with disabilities.

“Mr. Kemp has failed his responsibility to ensure that all polling locations in the State of Georgia are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Coelho. “Worse, his associate callously tried to use the ADA as a justification for closing polling locations entirely, which is a violation of the law I and others worked so hard to pass.”

“Voters, especially voters with disabilities, should not be forced to travel 30 miles to vote simply because Mr. Kemp has failed to do his job,” Coelho added.

Mike Malone, a longtime Kemp associate and donor, consulted with the Randolph County Board of Elections following a recommendation by Kemp’s office earlier this year. Malone, who said he was directed by Kemp to “recommend polling closures” across Georgia pushed for closing seven of the nine Randolph County polling locations due to non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Kemp claimed to oppose the Randolph County polling closures. However, new audio evidence highly suggests that Kemp himself directed Malone to recommend these closures.

“That Mr. Kemp or any of his associates would advocate closing polling locations in the name of the ADA is shameful and nonsensical. Closing non-ADA accessible polling locations does not foster compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; rather, it is a violation of that act.”

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a landmark law passed with strong bipartisan support and signed into law by then-President George H.W. Bush. Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to vote. However, the law does not permit poll closures as a remedy for non-compliance.

Coelho noted that the majority of voters in Randolph County are African-American.

“Pitting African-American voters against voters with disabilities – many who are also African American – is a shameful new low in voter suppression from Brian Kemp. Voters with disabilities will not be a foil for Mr. Kemp’s voter suppression tactics. He cannot replace one form of discrimination with another.”

Anthony “Tony” Coelho is a former five-term member of Congress from California who also served as House Majority Whip.

Coelho is joining a chorus of advocates criticizing the excuse for poll closure recommendations. The Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, along with Rev-Up Georgia, released a letter on Wednesday August 22 condemning the proposal as well, saying “alleging non-compliance with the ADA in the 11th hour to justify the removal of other individuals’ rights flies in the face of the intention behind the ADA of promoting access for all.”

The next meeting of the Randolph County Board of Elections is scheduled for Friday, August 24 at 8:00 am.

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DPG Disability Caucus Statement on the 27th Anniversary of the ADA

Release:  Wednesday, July 26, 2017                                                                                                

Atlanta, GA – Democratic Party of Georgia Disability Caucus Chair Vincent Olsziewski issued the following statement on the 27th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act.

“Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being signed into law. Since its enactment, the ADA has afforded persons with disabilities far greater access to housing, transportation and many other aspects of this life most take for granted.

“Before the ADA, persons with disabilities faced housing discrimination and were denied education opportunities. Thanks to the enforcement of the ADA, we are no longer segregated in sheltered workshops in the workplace, or paid less than the minimum wage for our labor. The ADA has saved lives, broken down barriers, and ensured the dignity that every single American is owed.

“While we celebrate these achievements, the fight is not over. The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a health care repeal bill that will devastate persons with disabilities. The GOP’s cuts to Medicaid will strip many of the home and community based services they need to stay healthy and maintain economic security. Governors and state legislators will be forced to either raise taxes to avoid budget shortfalls or cut back and eliminate services all together—particularly here in Georgia where 68.5% of Medicaid spending is covered by federal funding. The GOP’s repeal bill is cruel and fiscally irresponsible.

“The ADA was a bipartisan piece of legislation drafted by a Democrat and signed into law by a Republican president. Equality, access, freedom, and opportunity are above politics, and the DPG’s Disability Caucus urges our leaders to work together to protect and build upon this legacy.”

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