[NFB_of_Georgia] Urgent Request for Public Response Regarding Accessibility of New Voting Machines

[emarcirobinson at gmail.com]

Hello Everyone,

PLEASE SHARE WITH ANYONE IN YOUR NETWORK WHO MAY NOT BE ON THIS LIST.

The attached PDF’s have been updated so that they can be completed digitally without having to print them out and also includes a direct link to the email address at the top of the form.
 
The Georgia State Board of Election is accepting public comment on a new proposed rule (SEB Rule 183-1-13.-02: Assistive Technology Devices <https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Proposed%20Rule%20183-1-13-.02.pdf>, available at https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Proposed%20Rule%20183-1-13-.02.pdf <https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Proposed%20Rule%20183-1-13-.02.pdf>). A group of disability and civil rights organizations are concerned that this new rule does not do enough to ensure that voters with disabilities have equal opportunity to verify their ballot selections with the new voting machines.
 
You can help us notify the state that we need more protections to ensure equal access to voting for people with disabilities by sending a public comment to the Secretary of State. Please fill out one of the attached template letters and email it to us at votingaccess at gmail.com <mailto:votingaccess at gmail.com> so we can submit it on your behalf. These letters either can be printed and scanned or filled out digitally. One template is for Georgia voters with disabilities. The other template is for use by other concerned citizens. If you prefer to submit a letter directly to the Secretary of State, please email a copy to or CC votingaccess at gmail.com <mailto:votingaccess at gmail.com>.  Please send your comments as soon as possible. The comment period closes on Monday, February 17th, so we ask that all comments to be emailed to votingaccess at gmail.com <mailto:votingaccess at gmail.com> by Friday, February 14th.
 

Again,  these responses must be emailed by Friday, February 14, 2020 so that they can be submitted to the Secretary of State’s office by Monday, February 17, 2020.

Thank you for your assistance in this urgent matter.\



Marcia Robinson, Disability Advocate
Board Member
National Federation of the Blind of Georgia Affiliate
770-862-0718 (cell)
mrobinson at nfbga.org

“Vision goes beyond physical sight; it is the ability to conceive what you want to achieve and pursue that goal to fruition.” Marcia Layne Robinson