<div dir="ltr"><div>Hello all, <br></div><div>The hearing for this bill will be on Thursday February 18 at 11 AM. The email address for the senators is <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us</a><br></div><div>Everyone should write to the chairman of the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs committee, Senator Paul Pinsky. <br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Anne Arundel County, write to Senators Edward Reilly and Bryan Simonaire. <br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Baltimore City, write to Senator Mary Washington.<br></div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Howard County or Baltimore County, write to Senator Clarence Lam and thank him for sponsoring the bill.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Carroll or Howard County, write to Senator Katie Fry Hester (<a href="mailto:katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us">katiefry.hester@senate.state.md.us</a>).</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Charles County, write to Senator Arthur Ellis.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Cecil or Harford County, write to Senator Jason Gallion.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Montgomery County, write to Senator Cheryl Kagan.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Prince George's County, write to Senator Obie Patterson.</div><div><br></div><div>If you live in Somerset, Wicomico, or Worcester County, write to Senator Mary Beth Carroza.</div><div><br></div><div>Pasted below is a sample letter for you in case you need it.</div><div><br></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 2021<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Senator Paul Pinsky<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">2W Miller Senate Office Building<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">11 Bladen Street<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Annapolis, MD 21401<span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dear Senator Pinsky,<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-Default" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook",serif;color:black"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Preamble
of SB 271 changes the policy of the state for voting.<span> </span>It reads “It is the policy of this State to
ensure all voters are able to cast a secret ballot.” If you believe that all
voters deserve the right to vote privately and secretly, you should vote in
favor of this bill.<span> </span><span></span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Prior to the 2016 election, Maryland had one voting system
for all citizens.<span> </span>In the 2016 and 2018
elections blind and disabled voters lost their right to a secret ballot because
the government refused to purchase enough electronic ballot marking devices for
all voters;<span> </span>thus, the majority of voters
marked their ballot by hand.<span> </span><span> </span>Blind and disabled voters were forced to use a
separate, electronic voting system.<span> </span>Electronic
ballots are visibly different and can be easily identified, especially in
recounts. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Please restore the right of a secret ballot to blind and
disabled voters by voting in favor of SB 271.<span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Sincerely,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Name<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Address</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">City, State,
Zip<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Email Address</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span> <font face="arial,sans-serif">Thanks for your efforts on protecting voting rights for the blind and disabled citizens of Maryland. <br></font></span></p>
</div><div><br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div>