7-12-13 polling place obstacles

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new report finds more than 10,000 violations of federal laws governing accessibility of polling places in Wisconsin over the past three years.  The Government Accountability Board report released Thursday is the result of unannounced inspections at 1,614 polling places statewide over the past 16 elections. On average, each polling site inspected had 6.5 violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Help America Vote Act.  Board director Kevin Kennedy says more than a third of the violations were serious enough to prevent a voter with a disability from entering a polling place and casting a ballot privately. He says Wisconsin has "quite a ways to go to ensure everyone with a disability is able to vote privately and independently."  Municipal clerks are responsible for making polling places accessible.