DeKalb’s elderly and disabled voters who need a bit more room to maneuver will have the state’s first and only ADA Accessible-Only Absentee Poll in Georgia when early voting starts on July 9.

The DeKalb Board of Registration & Elections said that even though all the county’s polling precincts are fully accessible as required by the Americans With Disabilities Act, it will provide extra room to accommodate seniors and disabled voters at its 4380 Memorial Drive location.

Voters can cast early ballots there on weekdays through July 27 and on Saturday July 14 and 21. The polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The ADA Accessible poll will be located in the room usually reserved for absentee voting but will be populated with fewer voting stations to offer more room for voters using wheelchairs and walkers. The room, which usually holds more than 30 voting stations, will have about 20.

Maxine Daniels, the county’s elections supervisor, said there will be better access to stations and some of them will be accessible from a seated position.

There also will be better wheelchair access to the units on tables. More units will have audio ballots for sight-impaired voters.

The voters will get help checking in from volunteers from the Stone Mountain and Decatur alumnae chapters of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Additional handicapped parking close to the building entrance also will be provided.

Appointments are available for groups needing assistance by calling 404-298-4020.

Georgia’s Election Code requires voters with disabilities and seniors 75 years and older to be given priority placement at the next available voting unit between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Daniels said the new provisions will allow the office to exceed the legal mandates and reduce delay for other voters who will vote in a separate room.

For information about additional early voting sites and times, visit http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/.