[IABS-Talk] [IL-Talk] Vote by mail letter

[Leslie Hamric]

Sounds good.
Leslie


Leslie Hamric
Cello and Braille Music Teacher
Board member of National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division

> On Jun 26, 2020, at 2:07 PM, Denise Avant via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> Let me make a couple points. First, this is not a demand letter. Second, our
> state legislative co-chairs were involved, as this matter came to our
> attention and was moving quickly through the legislature.
> 
> Third, we tried expressing our concerns to the state legislature regarding
> the vote by mail bill. For most of the past legislative session, the
> legislature did not meet due to COVID-19. We attempted to contact
> legislators by phone and by mail and e-mail who were involved with the
> legislation. There was no chance for comment on the bill. 
> 
> Our concerns are shared by many across the U.S. as states pass vote by mail
> provisions. In fact, the NFB of Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania district
> courts ruled that the state election vote by mail process had to be
> accessible so that blind voters could vote secretly and independently in
> their primaries. Within a short time, those states were able to comply with
> the court orders. I advised both key members of our legislatures about this
> and also the governor's office. Our efforts were directed at letting the
> politicians know that vote by mail must be accessible. Quite frankly, there
> are other states, Washington, Hawaii, Oregon and Maryland that have had vote
> by mail provision and the Illinois legislature could have done a better job
> if only someone in the legislature would have looked at those states.
> 
> Finally,  once the legislature passed the bill and the governor signed it, I
> sent the letter you have now seen to the Illinois Secretary of State's
> office. It went out on Tuesday. Jesse White should have the letter by now
> and for that matter those to whom copies were sent. Patti's involvement in
> the ISBA has led to an article being published. We will have to see if we
> receive a quick response.
> 
> Our board has voted at the June 17 meeting to pursue a complaint with DOJ if
> that becomes necessary. Litigation is a last resort. But, litigation will be
> done only if both the state board approves and our national organization
> agrees.
> 
> I hope this answers some questions.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Denise R. Avant, Esq.
> 
> President,
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
> 
> 773-991-8050
> 
> Live the life you want.
> 
> 
> 
> For more information about NFBI,
> 
> Go to www.nfbofillinois.org
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> IL-Talk mailing list
> IL-Talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for IL-Talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/lhamric930%40comcast.net