[il-talk] Fwd: Illinois Constitutional Convention NoticeVoterInformation

Thu Nov 6 12:06:51 UTC 2008

Interestingly enough, they handed the paper to all in front and behind me. 
They skipped me entirely and never offered to read the judicially mandated 
version.

Patti Gregory-Chang
President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
pattichang at att.net
www.nfbofillinois.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kelly Doty" <kelly at dls.net>
To: "NFB of Illinois Mailing List" <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 8:31 PM
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Fwd: Illinois Constitutional Convention 
NoticeVoterInformation

>I was given the information in large, clear print as was everyone else. The 
>judge that I handed my application for early voting to asked me if I could 
>read it or if he should read it to me. I was able to read it and told him 
>so. Believe me, with the amount of time I had to wait to vote, I had plenty 
>of time to consider the issue.
>
> Kelly
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <AZNOR99 at aol.com>
> To: <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>; <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2008 7:21 PM
> Subject: [il-talk] Fwd: Illinois Constitutional Convention Notice 
> VoterInformation
>
>
>>I sent a message to the Chicago Bar Association to ask what guidance they
>> might offer someone who is blind or print disabled.  Their response is 
>> below.
>> Basically, an election judge is required to read the question to  anyone 
>> with
>> low vision or blindness prior to their entering the voting  booth.  Has 
>> this
>> happened to those of you who participated in early  voting?  I'm curious 
>> as to
>> how many of us will actually have an election  judge do this.
>>
>> Ronza
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ____________________________________
>> From: bmcmeen at chicagobar.org
>> To: AZNOR99 at aol.com
>> CC:  pollwatcher at chicagobar.org
>> Sent: 11/3/2008 4:58:49 P.M. Central Standard  Time
>> Subj: RE: Illinois Constitutional Convention Notice Voter  Information
>>
>>
>> Dear Ronza: I have been informed that  in the judgment that Judge Howse
>> entered as well as his supplemental order  that was entered last week 
>> explicitly
>> requires the judges of election to read  the Corrective Notice to every 
>> voter
>> who is vision impaired.
>> Please let us know if you have any other  questions.
>> Beth
>>
>> Beth McMeen
>> CLE Director
>> The  Chicago Bar Association
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: AZNOR99 at aol.com  [mailto:AZNOR99 at aol.com]
>> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 7:32  PM
>> To: cle at chicagobar.org
>> Subject: Re: Illinois  Constitutional Convention Notice Voter Information
>>
>>
>> I want to know if it is a further violation to provide the document in
>> written form on election day but not provide a mechanism for reading it 
>> for  those
>> of us who have print disabilities such as blindness.  For  example, the 
>> ballot
>> itself is now in an audio form for those of us who need  such an
>> accommodation under the Help America Vote Act.  Would the  provision of 
>> written notice at
>> the polling site constitute a violation of  this Act since there would be 
>> no
>> effective way for blind and print disabled  voters to read it 
>> independently?
>>
>> Ronza Othman
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 10/31/2008 2:59:25 P.M. Central Standard Time,
>> cle at chicagobar.org writes:
>>
>>
>> Dear CBA Member:
>> As you have probably heard, the CBA has filed suit challenging the form 
>> of
>> the ballot for the referendum in the upcoming election about the  calling 
>> of a
>> Constitutional Convention in Illinois. The CBA has not taken  a position
>> supporting or opposing holding a Constitutional Convention. Our  lawsuit 
>> is simply
>> intended to ensure that the referendum is conducted in a  fair and
>> constitutional manner.
>> The circuit and appellate courts have agreed with us that the form of 
>> ballot
>> certified by the State Board of Elections is inaccurate, biased,  and
>> misleading. The courts have ordered that each voter, before voting, be 
>> given a
>> "Corrective Notice" in the form of the attached pdf file entitled 
>> "Con-Con
>> Notice." All voters throughout Illinois are supposed to receive  the 
>> Notice,
>> including those voting by absentee ballot, Early Voting, and  on Election 
>> Day.
>> We believe that the Corrective Notice does not adequately remedy the 
>> legally
>> defective ballot, and we intend to file a petition for leave to  appeal 
>> after
>> the election asking the Supreme Court to decide that issue.  In the 
>> meantime,
>> however, we have received reports that some voters are  not receiving the
>> Corrective Notice. To attempt to determine the extent of  compliance or
>> noncompliance with the court orders requiring distribution  of the 
>> Notice, we are
>> asking voters to fill-out the attached  one-page affidavit (the pdf file 
>> entitled
>> "Con-Con Affidavit
>>
>>
>>
>> ") and return it to the CBA at pollwatcher at chicagobar.org
>> <mailto:pollwatcher at chicagobar.org> or by fax to (312)  554-2054.
>> Please feel free to forward this email to your colleagues, friends and
>> family. They should likewise feel free to forward the email to other 
>> Illinois
>> voters. The more responses we receive, the better we will be able  to 
>> assess the
>> extent to which the remedy prescribed by the courts has been 
>> implemented.
>> I am proud that our Association has taken a leadership role in this 
>> matter.
>> With your assistance, we can try to ensure that the remedy  fashioned by 
>> the
>> courts does not prove to be illusory.
>> Thank you for your help.
>> Sincerely,
>> Terrence M. Murphy
>> Executive  Director
>>
>>
>>
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