LANCASTER, Pa. -- While voter turnout in most of the city of Lancaster is low this year, one voter wouldn't miss his chance to cast a ballot.

Video

Anne Shannon's Report

"It's the only way I have, others have, to tell the Legislature how to run this country," Lancaster resident Wayne Koch said.

Koch takes voting very seriously, but he said he faces some major obstacles when it comes to exercising his right to vote.

"We're over fighting a war for freedom, yet here in America I'm fighting to vote," Koch said.

Koch is in a wheelchair after he was injured in a car accident in 1988.

"Since then I've been lobbying at this precinct to get it fully accessible. They've made some accommodations, but it's not fully accessible," Koch said.

News 8 followed Koch to his precinct at Pearl Street United Methodist Church.

Koch said he fought to get a ramp and its handrails in place. Still, he struggles to get through the doors and into the voting area.

News 8 was not allowed to take the camera into the precinct, but News 8's Anne Shannon watched Koch vote. The judge of elections helped him with his write-in ballot, offered to answer any questions and then gave him a privacy partition while he cast his ballot.

"Which is the first time that has been provided, the first time that has been provided," Koch said.

Koch heads up a group called Lancaster Disabled For Change And Justice. Its members have been lobbying the county board of elections to get full access to all voting precincts.

The Board of Elections has replied to each of Koch's requests, even offering a number of voting options, but Koch said he's not satisfied and he'll keep fighting for his right to vote.

"It's the only way I'm gonna make things change. If I don't vote, why would I complain?" Koch said.

Koch said he'd like to see the city cut the number of precincts in half and make all those that remain fully accessible.