[Massachusetts-NFB] Democracy Live Zoom meeting to discuss H-3577 regarding equal access to voting

[Sandra Burgess]

Hello Justin,

Thanks for prompting to send what information I have to everyone.  I am not sure about the Sept. 9th hearing, though I received an email yesterday regarding another similar hearing middle of this coming week.  I will forward to this list.

153573


From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Justin Salisbury via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Saturday, September 9, 2023 4:49 PM
To: NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu>; Lou Ann Blake <LBlake at nfb.org>
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Democracy Live Zoom meeting to discuss H-3577 regarding equal access to voting

Hi everyone,

Are we still expecting a hearing on H. 3577 in 10 days?

I am not seeing this action reflected on the website for our state legislature. I'm attempting to do my part to help with writing, but I am still needing information about the hearing.

Thanks all,

Justin


Justin Salisbury (he/him)
2117 Chestnut Hill Ave
Athol, MA 01331
Phone: 808.797.8606
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>





From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 8:07 AM
To: 'NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List' <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
Cc: sharawinton at gmail.com
Subject: [Massachusetts-NFB] Democracy Live Zoom meeting to discuss H-3577 regarding equal access to voting

Hello Federation Family and Friends,

This Thursday, August 24  at 7PM, we will be holding an information and discussion about an upcoming hearing regarding an amendment to the current access to voting for our community. Charlie Kinnune from Democracy Live  Will join us to help us understand the importance of supporting this legislation. I have also invited some people from our National office of the NFB.   We will discuss if and why we might want to  support and promote H-3577.

This amendment  Provides uniformity.   H-3577 is sponsored by Sean Garballey

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/HD2757

Reasons to  consider supporting  and promoting H-3577:

Provides uniformity. Codifies the existing practice in Massachusetts. This bill would ensure all voters will continue to receive the same ballot as all voters in a polling place.
Provides transparency and trust. New systems provide what they call "separate but equal" access. With these systems, voters with disabilities use a system that produces a receipt with a barcode as the official ballot. It looks different from other ballots in the polling place and the barcode is tabulated. It's not human readable.
The greater disability community supports this bill .


Here is the H-3577 text:

Section 44 of chapter 54 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Ballots shall be uniform in size, material and content for all voters in a polling place, regardless of whether the ballot is voted on a ballot-marking device or directly on a paper ballot. Ballots shall be tabulated directly from the voter-marked selections and not from a barcode, QR code or other representation not marked by the voter, either on a ballot-marking device or directly on paper.

The hearing date is set for September 19 at 1PM. At this time, we are not sure of the location, but we will publicize that as soon as we know.


Our discussion will be held Thursday night, August via Zoom. We will begin at 7PM. Some members of ACB, will be joining us. I have also invited people from our National office.

Here is the Zoom information:

 https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/9798687370<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb-org.zoom.us%2Fj%2F9798687370&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3Z8kwltvzYhYGFyABjLPNZ>

Meeting ID: 979 868 7370

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Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more information. Otherwise, see you this Thursday, August 24 at 7PM.

At Your Service,


Shara Winton
President, National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts
617-304-0347

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