Voters vexed over watery walkway

AMENIA — While Election Day is a time for citizens to voice their opinions about the affairs that affect them, the loudest voices on Tuesday, Nov. 8, did not decry political issue, but the conditions at one of Amenia’s polling places.Voters who cast their ballot at the Amenia Fire Department on Election Day dealt with parking problems, a soggy lawn and a ramp without a railing in order to enter the building. “It was ridiculous,” said Sondra Friedman, who had trouble crossing the muddy grass the led up to the back entrance of the firehouse. The front entrance was not open. “I was just looking for a safe way to get in there.”Friedman said she spoke with two people from the Board of Elections and was told the issue would be addressed.Friedman, who has previously been an elections inspector, said that the venues are not chosen as carefully as they used to be, which causes problems for seniors and handicapped people.“It wasn’t a good venue for people to go to vote,” she said. “I hope they find another location ... I think it kept people from coming.”Ed Covert agreed. The problems he cited included “no handicapped parking signs anywhere ... a wet, uneven, unpacked grassy area ... a ramp with no handholds or railing to assist those with mobility or sight issues ... [and] the little lip that was caused by the makeshift ramp [that] caused some who shuffle when they walk to stumble.”The president of the Amenia Fire Department was unavailable for comment.Election inspector trainer Steve Gold said the afternoon of Election Day the Board of Elections had ramps sent to the Amenia Fire Department to cover part of the soggy lawns. The ramps did not have hand railings.“There was no other way of improving the situation on Election Day,” said Gold, noting that no one foresaw that the ground would be so sodden on Election Day.He said he looked into having the front door of the firehouse opened as a way of fixing some of the problems, but he said his suggestion was flatly refused because the new renter in that part of the building was not reachable for permission.“It was a regrettable situation,” he said. “We will improve the situation [next year] by either moving the polling site or by having appropriate ramping.”Gold also said that clear handicap parking signage will be used if the location is used as a polling site in the future.

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