<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Hi, Maryanne,</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I remember a few years ago, I was going to be away for a local election and I had to have a friend come over to help me fill the absentee ballot out. When we're in the voting booth or area, we vote ourselves so that no one else knows who we voted for. I totally agree that absentee ballots, especially during these times, MUST, (and I mean MUST) be accessible to us blind folks.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">EstherSent From Esther's Amazing and Awesome iPhone 7+</span></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On May 21, 2020, at 12:09 PM, Maryanne Melley via CT-NFB <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dear Affiliate Members,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have reached out to John Pare at national with this very disturbing announcement. Our civil rights are being violated by only having the voting option of absentee ballots that are not accessible to the blind. I will keep you up to date with what can be done.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Maryanne Melley<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">President<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">860-212-5549<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">“Live the Life You Want”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> CT-NFB <ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lucia Lee via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 21, 2020 9:45 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of CT list serve <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org>; CTABS List serv <ctabs@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> llee@nfbct.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] [FWD: FW: GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING ALL ELIGIBLE CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO VOTE ABSENTEE IN AUGUST 11 PRIMARY ELECTIONS]<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:6.0pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt" id="replyBlockquote"><div id="wmQuoteWrapper"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black">-------- Original Message --------<br>Subject: FW: GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING ALL ELIGIBLE<br>CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO VOTE ABSENTEE IN AUGUST 11 PRIMARY ELECTIONS<br>From: "Sigman, Brian" <<a href="mailto:Brian.Sigman@ct.gov"><span style="color:windowtext">Brian.Sigman@ct.gov</span></a>><br>Date: Thu, May 21, 2020 9:32 am<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">From: Sullivan, Kathleen <<a href="mailto:Kathleen.Sullivan@ct.gov"><u><span style="color:blue">Kathleen.Sullivan@ct.gov</span></u></a>> <br>Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 6:47 PM<br>Subject: FW: GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING ALL ELIGIBLE CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO VOTE ABSENTEE IN AUGUST 11 PRIMARY ELECTIONS</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;letter-spacing:1.2pt">Please share with our partners</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;letter-spacing:1.2pt"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fct.gov%2Fgovernor&data=01%7C01%7CKathleen.Sullivan%40ct.gov%7C2c090648233f4bbb5ac308d7fd0ddc43%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0&sdata=xZ9qJ%2BHPMPFS3904jx0zQKx4qEZbiHeK3Xesl01UPss%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><div><image002.jpg></div></span></b></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING ALL ELIGIBLE CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS TO VOTE ABSENTEE IN AUGUST 11 PRIMARY ELECTIONS</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he has signed an <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7QQ.pdf?la=en" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">executive order</span></u></a> allowing all registered voters in Connecticut to vote absentee in the August 11, 2020 primary elections.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Current state law authorizes the use of an absentee ballot for six reasons, including a voter’s active service in the Armed Forces; absence from town during all of the hours of voting; own illness; religious beliefs; duties as an election official; and physical disability. Governor Lamont said that as the highly contagious virus continues to spread and nearly 3,500 people in the state who have contracted the disease have died within the last two months, it is critical that state government make reasonable adjustments that reflect the current state of emergency while ensuring that the democratic process continues safely and securely.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“Nobody should need to make a decision between their health and their right to vote,” Governor Lamont said. “Our state has taken every responsible step to this point to ensure that our residents are safe, and the next step we must take is to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 when Connecticut residents cast their ballots. We must guarantee access to the ballot, and this is a way to do that during these extraordinary circumstances. I do not take this decision lightly, and it is with the public health and welfare of residents in mind.”</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Secretary of the State Denise Merrill has <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Press-Releases/2020-Press-Releases/Secretary-Merrill-Releases-Connecticuts-Election-Plan-in-the-Face-of-COVID19" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">announced</span></u></a> that she intends to mail every registered voter in the state an application they will need to fill out and return in order to obtain an absentee ballot. That application, which will be sent via U.S. Postal Service, will include a postage paid return envelope. After processing the applications at the local level, all voters who requested an absentee ballot will receive the ballots in the mail, which will also include a postage paid return envelope. Each town will also have a secure dropbox in a prominent location to allow voters to deliver their absentee ballots in person without close personal contact.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Connecticut’s 2020 presidential primary was initially scheduled to be held on April 28, but to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, Governor Lamont signed executive orders <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/04-2020/Governor-Lamont-Orders-Connecticuts-Presidential-Primary-Election-Further-Rescheduled-to-August-11" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">rescheduling</span></u></a> it, first to June 2 and then to August 11, the same date that the state was already scheduled to hold primaries for other federal, state, and local offices. Moving the presidential primary to this date enables the primary for president to appear on the same ballot as those for other offices, and eliminates the need for the state to hold two separate primary elections.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">**<i>Download</i>: <a href="https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Office-of-the-Governor/Executive-Orders/Lamont-Executive-Orders/Executive-Order-No-7QQ.pdf?la=en" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7QQ</span></u></a></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">###</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">For Immediate Release: May 20, 2020<br>Contact: Connecticut Joint Information Center</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:COVID19.JIC@ct.gov" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">COVID19.JIC@ct.gov</span></u></a></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">860-754-8342</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://www.ct.gov/governor" target="_blank"><u><span style="color:blue">www.ct.gov/governor</span></u></a><br></span></b><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FGovNedLamont&data=01%7C01%7CKathleen.Sullivan%40ct.gov%7C2c090648233f4bbb5ac308d7fd0ddc43%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0&sdata=QPE9QVad1f3rHOvQrAaIBt0hrwUEgivC5jmepgrBFIs%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><div><image004.png></div></span></b></a><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovNedLamont&data=01%7C01%7CKathleen.Sullivan%40ct.gov%7C2c090648233f4bbb5ac308d7fd0ddc43%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0&sdata=2mYx2uz3jBrOZm35dsuay0mlbvl9oUUdGQWQbhILp4k%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><div><image006.png></div></span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fgovnedlamont%2F&data=01%7C01%7CKathleen.Sullivan%40ct.gov%7C2c090648233f4bbb5ac308d7fd0ddc43%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0&sdata=mA1jYVTI0KNNmnAQe0lu%2BUWPxuIXZKCbotWMgM78GYE%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><div><image008.png></div></span></b></a><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2FGovNedLamont&data=01%7C01%7CKathleen.Sullivan%40ct.gov%7C2c090648233f4bbb5ac308d7fd0ddc43%7C118b7cfaa3dd48b9b02631ff69bb738b%7C0&sdata=TudXBC18Qa7428D4FxufNq7JUB2FMYWgruefI0II6RY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><div><image010.png></div></span></b></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>CT-NFB mailing list</span><br><span>CT-NFB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for CT-NFB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/elevegnale%40sbcglobal.net</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>