LANSING - Communities in Macomb, Ottawa, Marquette, Allegan, Presque Isle, Tuscola, Midland and Wayne counties are among those sharing more than $200,000 in grants to improve access to polling places for people with disabilities.

The money comes from Michigan's Improving Access for All program. It will reimburse local governments for improving access for voters with disabilities.

"We want to eliminate any physical barriers that may impede voters with disabilities from going to the polls," said Kelly Chesney, media representative for the Secretary of State's office. "These funds will help communities improve precinct access. We're paving the way for a more inclusive process."

The grants range from Wright Township's $784 for signs and parking lot improvement to Detroit's $85,000 for measures at 53 polling places.

In Midland County, Hope Township will receive $4,430 to widen handicapped parking spaces, wheelchair ramps and door frames, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

"Our population is less than 2,000 people, so we already know who needs special accommodations," said Joann Wilkie, Hope Township clerk. "We keep a close watch, but these will help us become ADA-compliant."

Wilkie said the township has until September 2006 to make the necessary changes.

"We'll definitely have it done by then," Wilkie said. "But it would be great if we could get it done before the primary election" in August.

Other Lower Peninsula recipients include Wright Township in Ottawa County, Watertown Township in Tuscola County, Leelanau Township in Leelanau County, North Allis Township in Presque Isle County and the City of St. Clair Shores.

In the Upper Peninsula, grants will go to Forsyth Township in Marquette County, Chippewa Township in Chippewa County and Houghton Township in Keweenaw County.

The grants are part of the department's approach to ensure precinct accessibility. It is also seeking bids for equipment to provide disabled voters with access and privacy when casting ballots.

All 5,300 Michigan precincts will be required to use a standard optical scan voting system by 2006. The department has already received bids to assist voters with disabilities - for those who are blind, for example - so they can vote without assistance.

Most of the work will involve parking spaces, passenger drop-off areas, interior and exterior paths and voting areas.

Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service Inc., a private non-profit organization representing disability advocacy groups, partnered with the Department of State and local clerks to assess accessibility of polling places.

Out of 90 sites visited in 23 counties, 78 percent had one or more barriers that needed to be removed.

"As you can see by some of the cost figures, most of the changes needed were relatively inexpensive," said Tom Masseau, director of government and media relations for the group. "It just goes to show that to make a place accessible, it doesn't cost a lot of money."