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

Sat Sep 9 23:20:06 UTC 2023

Thank you for mentioning this. I was actually thinking about that as well.
I know I signed up to. No I don't get it updates but to be involved in
testify. If I need to whatever send, I haven't heard anything. So that's
connected to if he features his anything. Thanks for bringing it up again.

On Sat, Sep 9, 2023, 5:52 PM Sandra Burgess via Massachusetts-NFB <
massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Sandra,
>
>
> The Disability Law Center is looking for volunteers willing to testify
> about the importance of polling place accessibility and on experiences with
> accessibility barriers when voting in person during a hearing at the State
> House next *Wednesday, September 13th @ 1pm. *Participants will have the
> option of testifying in person in State House room A1 and virtually
> through Microsoft Teams.
>
>
>
> Volunteers will be testifying in support of H. 701 (
> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H701) - *An Act Enforcing
> accessibility for voters with disabilities*, a standalone bill which is
> also part 4 of the *Voting Access Act*. The Act requires the Secretary of
> the Commonwealth to arrange inspection of all polling places and early
> voting sites at least once every four years, to ensure compliance with
> federal and state disability accessibility laws.
>
>
>
> *Please let DLC know if you are willing and able to join us in testifying
> at the hearing.* To register to testify virtually, you must provide
> contact information through this form
> <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK713r63f-_4aX-W_iFedXoXdncBjy3alDoB0AdDp4imigeg/viewform?usp=sf_link>
>  by *4:00 PM on Monday, September 11, 2023*. Individuals and groups
> testifying in person are also encouraged to register online. Written
> testimony may be submitted by *Friday, September 22, 2023,* to the Joint
> Committee on Election Laws at 24 Beacon Street, Room 445, Boston, MA
> 02133, or by email to colleen.bellotti at mahouse.gov and
> mark.sternman at masenate.gov.
>
>
>
> Testifying about your own experience with in-person voting accessibility
> issues will ensure that your voices are heard when it comes to the ongoing
> fight for equality at the polls for all in Massachusetts. Thanks to each of
> you for all of your efforts to make voting in Massachusetts accessible for
> all.
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
>
>
> *Emily Almeda-Lopez* (She/Her/Hers)
>
> Voting Rights Advocate
>
> Disability Law Center, Inc.
>
> Direct phone/fax/text: (617) 221-8451
> <(617)%20221-8451>
>
> [image: DLC circle logo with the text 'The Protection & Advocacy Agency
> for People with Disabilities' around the scales of justice]
> <http://www.dlc-ma.org/> [image: Facebook logo]
> <https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Disability-Law-Center-of-Massachusetts/87454558425>
>   [image: Twitter Logo] <https://twitter.com/DLCMA> [image: YouTube logo]
> <https://www.youtube.com/user/DisabilityLawCenter>
>
>
>
> United Way Code: M361888
>
> *Massachusetts Register to Vote Online <https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR/>*
>
>
>
> *CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE**:* *The information contained in this electronic
> message is confidential and solely for the use of the recipient(s) and the
> Disability Law Center.  Its contents may be protected from disclosure by
> attorney-client privilege, the work-product doctrine, or federal law
> governing the confidentiality of information held by the Protection and
> Advocacy System. See, e.g., 45 C.F.R. sec. 1326.28; 42 U.S.C. 10806(a); 42
> C.F.R. 51.45(a).*
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Sandra Burgess via Massachusetts-NFB
> *Sent:* Saturday, September 9, 2023 5:47 PM
> *To:* NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Sandra Burgess <SandraBurgess at msn.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Democracy Live Zoom meeting to discuss
> H-3577 regarding equal access to voting
>
>
>
> Justin has prompted me to not assume everyone has information I received,
> so here is one post with one to come.  --- Sandy Burgess
>
> Hello BSCB Members and Friends,
>
> *On September 19th at 1:00*, a Hearing is taking place at the State
> House.  The Hearing is about Amendment H3577, The Unified Ballot Bill.  In
> this email we will include the language of the Bill for your convenience.
> This bill states that Massachusetts will choose accessible voting machines
> that will produce an identical ballot as all voters in the Commonwealth,
> that no ballot with a bar code or QR code will be used in place of the
> ballot used in every precinct, including absentee ballots.
>
>
>
> As the Voter Mark machines, currently located in every precinct in the
> State are aging and breaking down, parts are no longer being produced to
> repair these accessible voting machines.  Massachusetts is starting the
> process of looking into the next generation of this technology, H3577 will
> ensure that whatever the State chooses as the next accessible voting
> machine, all voters will have a system in place that will produce an
> identical ballot, not one that is different, making users of voting
> machines stand out, taking away our right of privacy.
>
> Here is the language of Bill H3577.
> *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.
>
>
>
> What are we asking of. You?
>
> The Hearing is the first step for this Amendment, at this time the
> Election Law Joint  Committee,  which is made up of both members of the
> State’s   Senate and House, are in the process of debating  the Bill.
>
>
>
> We are asking that you contact the members of the Election Law Joint
>  Committee, there names and contact information are listed below.  Let them
> know how important it is for our ballots to be the same as all  voters in
> the Commonwealth.  That our privacy is a Right as citizens.  Call or email
> these members, the choice is yours, but please take action NOW and let your
> voice be heard.
>
> Election Law
>
> Joint Committee
>
>
>
> *Committee Leadership:*
>
> *Senate:*
>
> D- John Keenen – Chair
>
> *617 722 1494*
>
> John.Keenan at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> D- Adam Gomez- Vice Chair
>
> *617 722 1660*
>
> D- Adam.Gomez at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> *House:*
>
> D- Daniel Ryan – Chair
>
> *617 722 2460*
>
> Dan.Ryan at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> D- Tommy Vitolo – Vice Chair
>
> *617 722 2220*
>
> Tommy.vitolo at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> *Committee Members( no particular order)*
>
> Cynthia Stone Creem
>
> *617 722 1639*
>
> Cynthia.creem at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> James B Eldridge
>
> *617 722 1120*
>
> James.eldridge at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> Jacob Oliveira
>
> *617 722 1291*
>
> Jacob.oliviera at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> Ryan Fattman(assistant Minority Leader)
>
> *617 722 1944*
>
> Ryan.fattman at masenate.gov
>
>
>
> Jessica Ann Giannino
>
> *617 722 2011*
>
> Jessica.giannino at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Alan Silvia
>
> *617 722 2230*
>
> Alan.silvia at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Patrick Joseph Kearney
>
> *617 722 2014*
>
> Patrick.kearney at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Carol A. Doherty
>
> *617 722 2014*
>
> Carol.doherty at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Daniel Carey
>
> *617 722 2396*
>
> Daniel.carey at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Meghan Kilcoyne
>
> *617 722 2396*
>
> Meghan.kilcoyne at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> John Francis Moran
>
> *617 722 2460*
>
> John.moran at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Paul K Frost(Ranking Minority)
>
> *617 722 2489*
>
> Paul.frost at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> Bradley H Jones Jr.
>
> *617 722 2100*
>
> BBradley.jones at mahouse.gov
>
>
>
> If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact either Nona
> Haroyan or Jerry Berrier.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> The Advocacy Committee
>
> Nona Haroyan, Co Chair
>
> *774 420-5678*
>
>
>
> Jerry Berrier, Co Chair
>
> *508 735-4420*
>
> _._,_._,_
> ------------------------------
>
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> [sandraburgess at msn.com]
>
> _._,_._,_
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Sandra Burgess via Massachusetts-NFB
> *Sent:* Saturday, September 9, 2023 5:32 PM
> *To:* NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Sandra Burgess <SandraBurgess at msn.com>; Lou Ann Blake <
> LBlake at nfb.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Democracy Live Zoom meeting to discuss
> H-3577 regarding equal access to voting
>
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *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
>
> ---
>
> One tap mobile
> +13092053325,,9798687370# US
> +13126266799,,9798687370# US (Chicago)
>
> ---
>
> Dial by your location
> • +1 309 205 3325 US
> • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
> • +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
>
>
>
> 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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