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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Pennsylvania Offers Accessible Write-In Ballots for Voters with Disabilities for June 2 Primary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar announced today that the Department of State will provide accessible write-in ballots to voters with<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>disabilities who request one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"These ballots will allow blind and low-vision voters to vote privately and independently in Tuesday's primary," Secretary Boockvar said. "We are committed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to increasing accessibility for voters with disabilities and implementing a long-term solution for accessible ballots for the November election and beyond."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson issued an order on Wednesday mandating that the department offer an accessible write-in primary ballot for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>voters with disabilities who request one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To obtain an accessible write-in ballot, an individual must:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Be an eligible Pennsylvania voter who applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot by the May 26, 2020, deadline and has not yet submitted their voted ballot.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Submit an email request to <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:ra-awib@pa.gov">ra-awib@pa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> for the accessible write-in ballot by 8 p.m. on May 29, 2020. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Include in the email the voter's full name, date of birth and address where registered.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• Complete an accessible declaration electronically sent to them by the department and authenticate the declaration with a valid Pennsylvania driver's<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>license, a valid Pennsylvania state personal identification number or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The department will electronically transmit via email to the requesting voter: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(1) an accessible write-in ballot; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(2) an accessible declaration form; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(3) accessible instructions; <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(4) an accessible candidate list for the voter's election district; and <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(5) a write-in envelope.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Using their screen reader software, voters with disabilities can then vote in the privacy of their own homes, print their voted ballot and return it to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>their county elections office. Their county must receive their voted ballot by 8 p.m. on June 2. A postmark is not sufficient.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MEDIA CONTACT: Wanda Murren, 717-783-1621<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This press release can be viewed at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/State-details.aspx?newsid=385">https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/State-details.aspx?newsid=385</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Joseph Drenth <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First Vice-President, National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Rehabilitation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senior R&D Software Engineer, JBT Corporation, Automated Systems Division<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 215-827-7787<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: joe.drenth@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>