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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org">Email</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>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.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> DSM-Iowa <dsm-iowa-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Michael Barber via DSM-Iowa<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:52 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List' <tall-corn@nfbnet.org>; 'Des Moines Chapter List, NFB of Iowa' <dsm-iowa@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> m.barber817@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> [DSM-Iowa] FW: SB 53<br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please send a similar leter to these people about this saccessible boting absentee ballot soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michael<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:m.barber817@gmail.com">m.barber817@gmail.com</a> <<a href="mailto:m.barber817@gmail.com">m.barber817@gmail.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 3, 2021 10:12 AM<br><b>Subject:</b> SB 53<br><br><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hi Senator Selsi: Could you please give immediate attention to the bill below?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Ladies and Gentlemen:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Section 1. NEW SECTION. 53.4 Absentee ballot marking pilot program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>4. This section is repealed July 1, 2023.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>5. This act being deemed of immediate importance takes effect upon enactment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michael D. Barber<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2880 Grand Avenue<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Unit 503<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Des Moines, IA 50312<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(515) 284-1569<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>