[DSM-Iowa] FW: FW: SB 53

Fri Mar 5 03:33:42 UTC 2021

Please see the message below from Michael Barber on our accessible voting
efforts if you haven't already. I encourage all of us to get involved to
help further the cause of truly accessible voting in Iowa. Perhaps, we can
be one of the states that can show the nation that true accessible voting is
not only achievable, but it is our right if we are to be fully functioning
members of society. Please contact your legislators and the Secretary of
State's office as well. Our message is getting out there, we just need to
make sure it hits home for everyone! Michael's letter is below and you can
certainly send something along these lines. Please feel free to reach out if
there are any questions, and we will send updates as they become available.

Scott Van Gorp, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Phone: 515-720-5282
Email <mailto:svangorp at nfbi.org> 

 <http://www.nfbi.org/> Website 

<https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823
082570/posts> Facebook 
 <https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa> Twitter 
Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

From: DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Michael Barber via
DSM-Iowa
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:52 AM
To: 'NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List' <tall-corn at nfbnet.org>; 'Des Moines
Chapter List, NFB of Iowa' <dsm-iowa at nfbnet.org>
Cc: m.barber817 at gmail.com
Subject: [DSM-Iowa] FW: SB 53

Please send a similar leter to these people about this saccessible boting
absentee ballot soon.

Michael

From: m.barber817 at gmail.com <mailto:m.barber817 at gmail.com>
<m.barber817 at gmail.com <mailto:m.barber817 at gmail.com> > 
Sent: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:12 AM
Subject: SB 53

Hi Senator Selsi:  Could you please give immediate attention to the bill
below?

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I urge you to please add the following language to the bill discuss in the
State Government bill on behalf of a bill which discussed accessible
absentee ballots for people who are blind before the funnel this Friday.  In
my opinion, this is much too slow, so if you can speed it up, that would be
preferable.

Section 1. NEW SECTION. 53.4 Absentee ballot marking pilot program.

1. The state commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to
implement a pilot program to establish procedures to enable a voter with a
disability that prevents the voter from marking a ballot by hand to
independently and privately mark a ballot or use an electronic voting device
that produces a paper record using nonvisual access, low-vision access, or
other assistive technology in order for the voter to complete an absentee
ballot by mail pursuant to this chapter.

The procedures shall include a method by which a voter with a disability
that prevents the voter from marking a ballot by hand to request an absentee
ballot by mail. The state commissioner shall consult with the Iowa council
of the united blind and the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa in
evaluating assistive technology to be used in the pilot program.

2. If the pilot program under this section is not implemented statewide, the
pilot program shall include sufficient counties, as determined by the state
commissioner, to conclude whether the program is feasible statewide.

3. The state commissioner shall file a report with the general assembly by
December 31 of each year regarding the pilot program established under this
section.

4. This section is repealed July 1, 2023.

5. This act being deemed of immediate importance takes effect upon
enactment.

Thank you.

Cordially,

Michael D. Barber

2880 Grand Avenue

Unit 503

Des Moines, IA  50312

(515) 284-1569

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