[CT-NFB] Secretary of State Denise Merrill Lets Us Down Once Again

Mon Apr 12 14:32:35 UTC 2021

Good Morning Federation Family,

Below and attached is a press release that went out today. In it is a brief
mention of my name representing the National Federation of the Blind of
Connecticut and a link to my testimony. In the very being Secretary of State
Merrill briefly states "I will remain in opposition to concepts like this
one" referring to electronic ballot return systems.

Office of Alderman Darryl J. Brackeen Jr

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 8th, 2021

Contact: Alderman Darryl Brackeen Jr.

Phone: 2036060846

NEW HAVEN ALDERMAN CRITICIZES CT SECRETARY OF THE STATE DENISE MERRILL'S
OBSTRUCTION OF E-VOTING FOR VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY
PERSONNEL & VOTERS LIVING ABROAD

Municipalities would have been provided with the option to explore
electronic voting options via accessible and secure smartphones and
computers to certain populations who have historically faced unique voting
obstacles, specifically voters with disabilities, voters living abroad, &
active-duty military personnel.

"New Haven is eager and ready to explore offering an electronic voting
option to our citizens who have historically faced unique challenges when
casting their ballot. This proposal has bipartisan support and the language
should be put back into S.B. 5. The City of New Haven  is strongly
positioned to provide this option and the Secretary of the State has
actively fought against making progress in this area for many years," said
New Haven Alder Darryl J. Brackeen, Jr.

Monday, April 5th - The Government Administration and Elections (GAE)
Committee in the Connecticut General Assembly struck key language from
legislation,
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType%253DBill%2526which_y
ear%253D2021%2526bill_num%253D5%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;us
t%3D1617995137074000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3C_55ilOZq8t3U8fLD8J3p&sa=D&source=ed
itors&ust=1617995137092000&usg=AOvVaw0n2GcOBd8rJB3vxX6Pbus1> Senate Bill No.
5, after hearing testimony from Secretary of State Denise Merrill stating,
"I will remain in opposition to concepts like this one". The electronic
voting proposal, contained in section 27 of the bill, has bipartisan support
and would have provided municipalities with the option to explore offering a
new, accessible and secure electronic voting option to certain individuals
who have faced unique obstacles and long standing challenges when casting
their ballots via the traditional means of in-person voting and absentee
ballot mail voting.

Electronic voting, also known as "e-voting," is "...a uniquely accessible
and secure voting option whereby citizens can safely cast their ballots via
smartphone, tablet, or computer. We want to ensure all individuals are able
to exercise their right to vote, including those facing unique challenges
and hardships in casting their ballots, such as citizens with disabilities,
citizens living abroad, and active-duty military personnel and their
families," said New Haven Alder Darryl J. Brackeen, Jr. who has championed
this effort in Connecticut. "Respectfully, we are asking the Connecticut
General Assembly to at least provide the opportunity to build battle-tested
infrastructure in local municipalities, we can't say something doesnt work
when there has been resistance to even trying". (Brackeen, Jr.'s full
written testimony before the GAE Committee can be read
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/gaedata/tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Brackeen,%252520Darryl,%252520
Chair-GenerationChangeCT-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;u
st%3D1617995137075000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1THYZJoLih81ax1lXaA8P6&sa=D&source=e
ditors&ust=1617995137093000&usg=AOvVaw1L5YgQYAQgTvPPYbMWPYH3> here.)

The proposal is supported by many of New Haven's elected leaders, including:
Senate President Martin Looney, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, New Haven
City Clerk Michael Smart, and the leadership of the New Haven Board of
Alders (President Tyisha Walker-Myers, Pro Tempore Jeanette Morrison, Third
Officer Salvatore Decola, Majority Leader Richard Furlow). Like Brackeen,
Jr., all submitted testimony in support for the electronic voting option,
which is included in
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType%253DBill%2526bill_nu
m%253DSB00005%2526which_year%253D2021%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26
amp;ust%3D1617995137075000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw25hH2eILrHPt7-eiWIxbdA&sa=D&sou
rce=editors&ust=1617995137093000&usg=AOvVaw19iJ_ZObX-2AEWwsVbUpE8> Section
27 of S.B. No. 5. The larger bill also contains other voting reform
measures, such as Automatic Voter Registration, and is officially titled "An
Act Concerning Increased Opportunities for Absentee Voting, Safe and Secure
In-Person Voting, and Voter Registration."

Electronic voting has been successfully and securely offered to various
populations across several other diverse jurisdictions, such as: Denver,
Colorado; Utah County, Utah; King County, Washington; and the state of West
Virginia, among others. Brackeen and other advocates argue that Connecticut
would be well-served by being able to offer a similar electronic voting
option to specific populations of voters as well.

Maryanne Melley, president of the National Federation of the Blind in
Connecticut, provided oral testimony at the GAE Committee's recent public
hearing on the bill on March 26th, sharing how in-person voting and absentee
ballot mail voting have both fallen short of providing accessible, secure
and private voting for the blind voters and left many disenfranchised, and
that an electronic voting option stands to be a promising solution to these
challenges. (Melley's full testimony can be viewed
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.you
tube.com/watch?v%253DpIoz5uM9qfw%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;u
st%3D1617995137076000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw26cEiGKynlzrteQMmJCaTc&sa=D&source=e
ditors&ust=1617995137093000&usg=AOvVaw3danZSrVHaNLXZowJfEwr7> here at
approximately the 3 hour and 29 minute mark.)

By
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://mobilev
oting.org/2020/04/west-virginia-expands-online-voting-option-in-upcoming-pri
mary-election-for-citizens-with-disabilities/%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Ded
itors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137077000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1Z0uYhqSEiooIajRURdag9&
sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137093000&usg=AOvVaw0FbGy7X5VGjzg5xrbAWNbJ>
one estimate from the organization Democracy Live, "nearly 15 percent of the
voting population cannot see, hold, or mark a paper ballot independently"
for which an electronic voting could be a helpful option to help ensure
people are able to exercise their right to vote.

According the New Haven City Clerk's office, in the city of New Haven in the
most recent 2020 general election, there were 446 citizens living outside of
the United States whole voted absentee, 20 active-duty military service
members who voted absentee, and 60 citizens who live in New Haven and have
"permanent absentee ballot" status who voted absentee (many of whom are
voters with disabilities). There was also an option on the absentee ballot
application whereby voters could select
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.new
havenct.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid%253D37771%26amp;sa%3DD%26
amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137077000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1oPPORbS
Vpl1qwNxR2en9J&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137094000&usg=AOvVaw0NlDLu60FQ
eZ2poVpYYr1U> "my physical disability" as a reason to request an absentee
ballot, but the tally of those voters in the 2020 general election is
unknown. Under this legislation, all of these voters could have availed
themselves of an electronic voting option, if it had been available and
provided by the municipality during the 2020 election.

Other elections and cybersecurity experts also provided testimony to the GAE
Committee, including Forrest Senti, Vice President of Programs and
Operations for the National Cybersecurity Center, who noted, "In each of the
pilots that we have had the opportunity to participate in, we have witnessed
how electronic ballot return has supported the key pillars of effective
election administration accessibility, security, and accountability. The
technologies developing to enhance electronic ballot return methods beyond
email and fax have made voting easier for individuals experiencing a barrier
to voting (whether because of their status as an overseas voter, or a
disability); the security protocols developed are being done so in the path
of the federal standards currently established for ballot marking devices
and other electronic ballot return methods; and the accountability available
because of the technologies allows voters the ability to anonymously check
that the ballot submitted matches the paper ballot that is printed and
tabulated by the respective administrative entity. (Senti's full written
testimony can be read
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/gaedata/tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Senti,%252520Forrest,%252520VP
%252520of%252520Programs%252520and%252520Operations-National%252520Cybersecu
rity%252520Center-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D16
17995137078000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw082Pu9L1HjnKqRGXxiJ-d0&sa=D&source=editors&
ust=1617995137094000&usg=AOvVaw3qSMWXT--FmDJmQA505SQH> here.)

Brackeen has also been able to secure the promise of philanthropic dollars
to underwrite a pilot for the city of New Haven, so that standing up the
program comes at no or minimal cost to taxpayers.

If the proposal is passed and signed into law, New Haven is poised to
potentially become the first municipality in Connecticut to offer an
electronic voting option via smartphone, tablet or computer to some of its
citizens, specifically voters with disabilities, voters living abroad, &
active-duty military personnel.

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL (S.B. 5, SECTION 27):

New Haven Alder Darryl J. Brackeen, Jr.

"As the individual who has spearheaded the effort of providing an electronic
voting option in New Haven, I am here to tell you that New Haven is eager
and ready to offer an electronic voting option for these individuals; and
with timely passage of this legislation, New Haven is strongly positioned to
provide this option in our upcoming municipal elections in November 2021.
The electronic voting system has been battle-tested and has been
successfully adopted and implemented in several cities, counties, and states
across the country. Voters in Connecticut would be well-served by having a
similar electronic voting option as well." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/gaedata/tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Brackeen,%252520Darryl,%252520
Chair-GenerationChangeCT-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;u
st%3D1617995137079000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2FaCbk21MADq0NfDnlkpls&sa=D&source=e
ditors&ust=1617995137094000&usg=AOvVaw1MOC0jn-sOR8S6Yj6ClOTk> here.)

New Haven City Clerk Michael Smart

"The bill will be connected to the current absentee ballot laws in the
state. Our goal is to give every voter every opportunity and available
options to exercise their right to vote." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/GAEdata/Tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Smart,%252520Michael,%252520Ci
ty%252520Town%252520Clerk-New%252520Haven-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%
3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137080000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3N8SuI3yuvN0CA7tkXM
IjJ&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137094000&usg=AOvVaw02kA4j2rFa-wBStenSxUv
Y> here.)

New Haven Board of Alders Leadership (President Tyisha Walker-Myers, Pro
Tempore Jeanette Morrison, Third Officer Salvatore Decola, Majority Leader
Richard Furlow)

"We would like to initiate a similar pilot program in Connecticut - for
active-duty military and citizens abroad, and for individuals with
disabilities here at home. To accomplish this, we are asking that the
Government Administration & Election Committee support New Haven and other
municipalities with the option to implement an electronic voting program,
beginning with municipal elections in 2021.

With timely passage by the Connecticut General Assembly, New Haven is
positioned to move forward and offer an electronic voting option for the
city's upcoming 2021 elections, thanks to efforts that have been spearheaded
and funding that has been secured by New Haven Alder Darryl Brackeen, Jr and
New Haven City Town Clerk Michael Smart. This effort also has the support of
Mayor Justin Elicker." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/GAEdata/Tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-City%252520of%252520New%252520
Haven%252520Board%252520of%252520Alders-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3D
editors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137081000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw3pUUNpRMZ2STmCFQWa_U0
d&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137095000&usg=AOvVaw10lJNVC--Eze-NPH-8HyB2>
here.)

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker

"The bill makes voting easier for everyone, but particularly those who face
clear barriers to voting today. People living with disabilities, those who
struggle to fit voting into their work schedule, or citizens who are
temporarily overseas.

As Mayor, I want all of my citizens to be able to exercise their
constitutional right to vote. Ultimately, this bill puts on display what we
all value: the ability for the government to change and adapt. Along with
expanding voter rights, this bill reinforces the idea that the citizens can
use their power at the ballot box to express their opinions and make their
voices heard. By making voting easier, we're ensuring that there is proper
electoral accountability for government officials. For those who want to
preserve their power, it is easy to make up excuses to limit voting, but for
those who fundamentally believe in fairness, the choice to support SB 5 is
clear." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/GAEdata/Tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Elicker,%252520Justin,%252520M
ayor-City%252520of%252520New%252520Haven,%252520Connecticut-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa
%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137081000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw0
sXG-k6m9ZAC6f6moLPgVl&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137095000&usg=AOvVaw15w
KwJoC275vsurdfH0wvS> here.)

Senate Democrats, Connecticut General Assembly (Sen. Looney, Sen. Duff, Sen.
Anwar, Sen. Haskell, Sen. Moore, Sen. Needleman, Sen. Slap, Sen Lesser, Sen.
Miler, Sen. Kasser, Sen. Abrams, Sen. Cohen, Sen. Kushner

"All voters have a right to easily and safely participate in democracy. SB5
will only serve to benefit our constituents by expanding the ability to
register to vote, increasing access to absentee ballots, and providing safe
and convenient methods by which supporting this important piece of
legislation while it moves through the committee process and toward passage
by both chambers." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/gaedata/tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Senate%252520Democrats-Connect
icut%252520General%252520Assembly-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditor
s%26amp;ust%3D1617995137082000%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw1EL5m3VoIx1fLIGwwiRh_r&sa=D
&source=editors&ust=1617995137095000&usg=AOvVaw1yfk3v-uqpJ4RKN8WJTwtq>
here.)

AARP Connecticut (John Erlingheusert, Advocacy and Community Outreach
Director):

"AARP is a nonpartisan, social mission organization that advocates for
individuals age 50 and older. We have a membership of 38 million nationwide
and approximately 600,000 in CT. We advocate at the state and federal level
for the issues that matter most to older adults and their families.

AARP supports the following sections...

Section 27 allows any municipality to provide a system, approved by the
Secretary of State, for the electronic return of an absentee ballot by any
elector." (Full testimony
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttps://www.cga
.ct.gov/2021/gaedata/tmy/2021SB-00005-R000326-Erlingheuser,%252520John,%2525
20Advocacy%252520Community%252520Outreach%252520Director-ARRP%252520Connecti
cut-TMY.PDF%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1617995137083000
%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw13IgCMPRnrrBuWcDBK5yxl&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1617995137
096000&usg=AOvVaw3IKjchPt3tuKLace9Gd0BW> here.)

-- 

Aileen Kim

Tusk Philanthropies <https://tuskphilanthropies.com/>  |

Best Regards,

Maryanne Melley

President

National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut

860-212-5549

maryanne.melley at gmail.com <mailto:maryanne.melley at gmail.com> 

"Live the Life You Want; Blindness is Not What Holds You Back"

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