Justice Department finds county elections website inaccessible to disabled residents

Editor’s Note: The following report is in ongoing review by the Citizen and will have more details in the coming weeks.

The Federal Justice Department has made a statement for elections accessibility for disabled persons by issuing public letters imploring several counties including Colorado County to “resolve the identified civil rights violations” found in their election websites.

The investigation by the department alleges that the Colorado County election website is inaccessible to residents with blindness or manual disabilities.

“Voting is fundamental to American democracy,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “It is imperative that all eligible voters with disabilities across the country have the information they need to access the ballot and exercise their right to vote in state and federal elections.”

According to the county elections office, the current webpage https://www.co.colorado.tx.us/page/colorado. Elections is a part of the county’s official website, and not its own designated website. The page has several important pieces of information for voters but is not easily navigated by those who have poor vision and need screen readers, or those with physical disabilities who cannot use a mouse and navigate the internet with their keyboard.

While the elections office concedes that the current format for their webpage is “not the best,” they are in the process of accommodating disabled residents in the county and fulfilling the complaints made by the Justice Department. It has been an ongoing process that may take more precedence with the Justice Department’s involvement.

“We are making continuing efforts to make that page ADA accessible,” Elections Administrator Rebecka Lacourse said, “We will continue to make those improvements within our capabilities.”

While voting for the amendments elections will be completed before any changes, the county may have time to reassess their system by the primary elections in 2024 depending on the funding necessary for the process.