<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div id="AppleMailSignature">Thank you<div><br></div><div>Jorge Hernandez </div></div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> March 26, 2018 at 8:37:57 PM EDT<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Nfbnet-members-list] Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for the Blind</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> National Federation of the Blind <<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">webmaster@nfb.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<div align="center"><h1><b>Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for
the Blind</b></h1>Directive Comes after Litigation brought by Blind
Voters<br><br>
</div>
<b>Columbus, Ohio (March 26, 2018): </b>Blind voters in Ohio must be able
to cast absentee ballots privately and independently, according to a
recent directive from Secretary of State John Husted.<br><br>
The directive comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the
Sixth Circuit ruled that a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of
the Blind and three blind voters could go forward. Plaintiffs were
represented by Disability Rights Ohio and Brown, Goldstein & Levy,
LLP. The suit sought a court order to require Husted’s office to provide
accessible ballot-marking solutions. The state had tried to have the
lawsuit thrown out, arguing that accessible absentee ballots were not
required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.<br><br>
Under the directive, the state’s local boards of elections must make
remote ballot-marking systems available to voters who are blind or who
have other disabilities in time for the November 2018 election. These
systems can be used alongside Braille or screen reader technology, which
reads the text on a computer’s screen as spoken words, to allow blind
voters to mark their absentee ballots without assistance. The ballot can
then be printed and mailed to the local board of elections, just like any
other absentee ballot. The system will also benefit voters who are
deaf-blind or who have other disabilities that prevent them from visiting
a polling place or marking a traditional ballot.<br><br>
“With these changes, I hope to finally be able to cast an absentee ballot
by myself, without any help from a sighted friend or family member, thus
maintaining confidentiality, and not have the worry of getting to a
polling location, just like any other Ohio voter,” said Shelbi Hindel,
one of the three named plaintiffs on the lawsuit. “I hope that other
people with disabilities across Ohio will take advantage of this
important new option.”<br><br>
“Secretary Husted’s decision to respect the rights of blind absentee
voters instead of continuing to litigate the issue is a victory for the
blind of Ohio and the nation,” said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the
National Federation of the Blind. “The kind of ballot-marking solution
that the blind of Ohio requested has been successfully implemented in
other states and will allow blind Ohioans to make their voting selections
privately and independently. The National Federation of the Blind urges
voting jurisdictions throughout the United States to adopt similar
systems.”<br><br>
“Disability Rights Ohio is pleased that Secretary of State Husted is
moving forward with creating a system that will give people with
disabilities equal access to the polls,” said Michael Kirkman, Executive
Director of Disability Rights Ohio. “As the new system is rolled out
across the state, we encourage anyone who has questions or problems to
call us.”<br><br>
<div align="center"><b>###<br><br>
</b></div><b>
About the National Federation of the Blind <br><br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in
Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB
defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information
and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are
losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind
people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about
our many programs and initiatives at
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10673&qid=2195086">
www.nfb.org</a><br><br>
<b>About Disability Rights Ohio:</b> Disability Rights Ohio is the
federally and state designated Protection and Advocacy System and Client
Assistance Program for the state of Ohio. The mission of Disability
Rights Ohio is to advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of
people with disabilities in Ohio. Disability Rights Ohio provides legal
advocacy and rights protection to a wide range of people with
disabilities. Find out more at
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10674&qid=2195086">
disabilityrightsohio.org</a>.<br><br>
<b>About Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP:</b> Brown, Goldstein &
Levy, based in Baltimore, Maryland, handles both civil and criminal
litigation and has long represented organizations and individuals with
disabilities in high-profile, high-impact disability rights cases. For
more information, visit
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10675&qid=2195086">
www.browngold.com</a>. <br><br>
<b>CONTACT:<br><br>
Chris Danielsen<br><br>
</b><i>Director of Public Relations<br><br>
</i>National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10676&qid=2195086">
cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
<b>Stacy Brannan-Smith<br><br>
</b><i>Communications Specialist<br><br>
</i>Disability Rights Ohio<br><br>
800-282-9181, ext. 101<br><br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10677&qid=2195086">
sbrannan-smith@disabilityrightsohio.org</a><br><br>
<table border="0">
<tbody><tr><td width="16"></td><td width="16">
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10678&qid=2195086">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" width="50" height="35" alt="Facebook Logo">
</a>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10678&qid=2195086">
</a></td><td width="16">
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10679&qid=2195086">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" width="50" height="35" alt="Twitter Logo">
</a>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10679&qid=2195086">
</a></td><td width="16"><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10680&qid=2195086"><img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" width="50" height="35" alt="Instagram Logo"></a>
</td><td width="16">
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10681&qid=2195086">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" width="51" height="35" alt="YouTube Logo">
</a>
</td><td width="16">
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10682&qid=2195086">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" width="50" height="35" alt="Email Icon Image">
</a>
</td><td width="16">
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10683&qid=2195086">
<img src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" width="50" height="35" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon.">
</a>
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10683&qid=2195086">
</a></td><td width="16"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="8" width="128">National Federation of the
Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | (410) 659-9314
</td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="8" width="128">
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=8682&qid=2195086&h=1e3d20e07394a59e">
Unsubscribe</a> |
<a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=8682&qid=2195086&h=1e3d20e07394a59e">
Opt Out</a> |
<a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10684&qid=2195086">
Sign up for email newsletter</a> </td></tr>
<tr><td align="center" colspan="8" width="128"><br>
200 East Wells Street<br>
Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
United States.. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFBNet-Members-List mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org">NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>List archives: <<a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org</a>></span><br><span>To unsubscribe from NFBNet-Members-List:</span><br><span>goto <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/jeh1065%40comcast.net">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/jeh1065%40comcast.net</a></span></div></blockquote></body></html>