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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Please see the below message from Maryland Disability Law Center. Don’t forget to complete our short survey after you vote. The survey can be accessed at:
</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZGFL99W">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZGFL99W</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Lou Ann</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black">From the MD Disability Law Center<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">MD Alliance members and friends:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Important information from MDLC to share with constituents-</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now that we have moved to the availability of voting using a pre-printed paper ballot, Maryland Disability Law Center has been fighting the state over the use or underuse of the accessible ballot marking device (BMD), which marks the ballot
electronically and then prints it to then be scanned. The BMDs use a ballot that is different in size and shape as compared to the pre-printed paper ballot. The Attorney General’s Office has therefore stated that we need voters with and without disabilities
to use the BMD to protect the privacy of the disability vote. However, some candidates do not like the machines for a number of reasons and the State Board of Elections has severely limited their use. Election judges have supposedly been instructed that
anyone can ask to use the BMD, but they have also be instructed not to tell voters that the BMD is available, unless the voter has a “visible disability.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recent reports from voters have shown the difficulties and barriers that voters are facing in accessing the BMD.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One voter was asked<span style="color:#1F497D"> </span>if she
<span style="color:#1F497D">“</span>has a disability.” Another was told that those machines are only for the “handicapped” or for voters with disabilities. One of these voters was also told that the “handicapped machine” is only for an audio ballot (which
is not true). That person was so frustrated by the push back that she ended up voting using the pre-printed paper ballot.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But voters should not have to fight or argue to use the BMD. It shouldn’t be that hard.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>What can you do</u>? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><u>Ask to use the Ballot Marking Device</u>? If you get pushback, advise the election judge that anyone can use the BMD. As one voter stated to the election judge, “how do you know I don’t have a disability?” That seemed sufficient
to quiet the election judge. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><u>Let me know where you voted and report your experience</u>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><![endif]><u>Also, please look to see if the attached signage was posted anywhere that lets voters know about the accessible ballot marking machine.
<o:p></o:p></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks and happy voting! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alyssa <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Alyssa R. Fieo</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><br>
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Director of Legal Advocacy</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Maryland Disability Law Center</span><span style="color:blue"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1500 Union Avenue, Suite 2000<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Baltimore, MD 21211</span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#1F497D"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Phone: 443-692-2507</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Email:
</span><a href="mailto:alyssaf@mdlclaw.org"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">alyssaf@mdlclaw.org</span></a><b><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""><br>
</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue"><br>
</span></b><span style="color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Confidentiality Notice</span></u></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#1F497D">:
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">This email may contain confidential information that may also be legally privileged and that is intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you received this email as an MDLC client</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">, please do not share
and do not forward this message without talking to the sender. Keeping this email confidential protects your attorney-client privilege.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you received this e-mail</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> as co-counsel, agent or retained
expert of MDLC, you should maintain its contents in confidence in order to preserve any applicable privileges.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you are not the intended recipient</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
or an authorized agent of the recipient, please be advised that any dissemination or copying of this email, or taking any action in reliance on the information contained herein, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify
me immediately by use of the Reply button, and then delete the email from your computer system. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Internal MDLC email communications</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> should not be forwarded outside
the agency without the original sender's permission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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