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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 02, 2012 2:35 PM<br><b>To:</b> Adelmo Vigil; State President, Puerto Rico; State President, Nebraska; State President, Connecticut; State President, Arizona; State President, New York; State President, Kentucky; Charlene Smyth; State President, New Mexico; State President, Montana; State President, Kansas; State President, North Dakota; State President, Idaho; Frank Lee; State President, Vermont; Schroeder, Fred; State President, North Carolina; State President, Missouri; J.W. Smith; State President, Pennsylvania; State President, Minnesota; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; State President, Wisconsin; Joyce Scanlan; State President, Wyoming; Ken Rollman; Kimberly Flores; State President, California; State President, Maryland; State President, Iowa; State President, Washington; State President, Hawaii; State President, Louisiana; State President, South Carolina; State President, Illinois; Patty Estes; Brown, Ron; State President, Mississippi; State President, Colorado; State President, Alabama; State President, Alaska; State President, Arkansas; State President, Delaware; State President, District of Columbia; State President, Florida; State President, Georgia; State President, Massachusetts; State President, Michigan; State President, Nevada; State President, New Hampshire; State President, Oklahoma; State President, Rhode Island; State President, Tennessee; State President, Utah<br><b>Subject:</b> National Federation of the Blind to Run Blind Voter Hotline<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>National Federation of the Blind to Run Blind Voter Hotline<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Election Day Hotline to Ensure Blind Voters <br>Receive Right to Private, Independent Vote<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Baltimore, Maryland (November 2, 2012): </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>, the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the United States, today announced that it will be hosting an Election Day hotline </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>that blind voters, poll workers, and voting rights advocates can call if problems arise with accessible voting technology or if other barriers prevent a blind voter from casting a private and independent ballot.</span><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/hava-legislation"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Help America Vote Act (HAVA)</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> requires that every polling place have at least one accessible voting machine available for every federal election so that voters with disabilities can cast a private and independent ballot. The hotline will be available on November 6, 2012, by calling 1-877-632-1940 from 7 a.m. EST to 7 p.m. PST. Individuals who have experience in the operation of accessible voting technology will be manning the hotline to provide assistance to blind voters, election officials, and voting rights advocates. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Marc Maurer</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>, President of the </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/NFB_voice"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>National Federation of the Blind</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>, said: “The Help America Vote Act was enacted to ensure that all Americans, including those who are blind or have low vision, receive the basic right to vote privately and independently. Unfortunately our experience has been that not every polling place is compliant with HAVA. We will be conducting this voter hotline to make certain that no blind person is denied the right to a private and independent vote.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Following the November 6th elections, the National Federation of the Blind will conduct<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7KZSHGS"> an online survey</a> to gather information about the experiences of blind voters. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure that blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans with the training and services they need, and to help seniors who are losing vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To make a donation, please go to </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.nfb.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style='border:none;border-right:solid white 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoPlainText><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent and successful. We need your support. To make a donation, please go to </span><a href="http://www.nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>