Write a commentFulton City Councilor J. Iorio and Legislator R. Taylor are raising strong objections to the Oswego County Board of Elections' unanimous decision to close the long standing polling location at Towpath Towers, a senior and disability accessible housing complex in the City of Fulton's 5th Ward.
The closure affects more than 90 senior residents in Towpath Towers alone and forces all 574 registered voters in the ward to travel miles to the Volney polling site at 57 Pierce Drive.
CC Iorio and I argue that the decision creates a significant and unnecessary barrier to voting for some of the county's most vulnerable residents.
"Protecting voting access is a fundamental duty of government."
We as elected officials at the city & county are entrusted with safeguarding the civil rights of all constituents, with particular care for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. The Board of Elections' decision fails that responsibility.
Concerns Over BOE Justifications
The Board of Elections cited several reasons for the closure, each of which both of us agree are solvable:
- Difficulty unloading voting machines and equipment CC Iorio & I argue that logistical inconvenience is not a valid justification for removing a polling site from a senior housing complex. Election workers routinely manage equipment in more challenging environments.
- Concerns that the front door may close and trigger calls to the BOE During the COVID‑19 pandemic, a worker was stationed at the entrance to ensure compliance with safety protocols. CC Iorio & I note that the same simple staffing solution could ensure the door remains open on Election Day.
- Low voter turnout in the 5th Ward We counter that turnout is often suppressed by barriers such as distance, mobility limitations, and lack of transportation. A proposed solution to combine the 5th and 6th Wards at Towpath Towers was dismissed without meaningful consideration.
- This is the only district that has an individual polling site My response, why aren't there elected officials lobbying for this exception for senior and disabled residents?
Absentee Ballots were offered as a solution
Commissioner Fleming suggested that Towpath residents shall be educated on absentee ballots. Absentee voting is a right, but not a replacement for accessible in person voting, especially for seniors who rely on assistance, or the independence of voting privately at a polling place.
Disproportionate Impact on Seniors and Disabled Residents
The closure disproportionately affects:
- Elderly residents with limited mobility
- Individuals with disabilities
- Residents without access to a vehicle
- Low‑income voters who rely on walkable polling locations
Our concern is that the decision raises concerns under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Voting Rights Act, both of which require equal access to the ballot.
Call for Immediate Reconsideration
We as elected leaders are urging the Oswego County Board of Elections to reverse the closure and reinstate Towpath Towers as a polling location, or adopt the proposed combined 5th/6th Ward site plan. We argue that reasonable, common‑sense solutions exist for every concern raised by the BOE.
"Voting is not supposed to be difficult."
"When government decisions make it harder for seniors and disabled residents to vote, that is not an administrative issue — it is a civil‑rights issue."
