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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Are you planning to vote in the election to replace Congressman Cummings on Tuesday, February 4? NFBMD needs information about your voting experience. Please answer the below questions and send your response off-list to me at <a href="mailto:nfbmd@earthlink.net"><span style='color:blue'>nfbmd@earthlink.net</span></a>. Do it as soon as possible after you vote so that we get your best recollections. This is another step that we must take to end voting segregation in Maryland, so it is very important that you help. Please ask your sighted friends, neighbors, etc., about their experience, too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Where did you vote (polling place)?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>What time of day did you vote?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Once it was your turn to check in, how long did the entire voting process take you?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>What did the poll worker say to you when you checked in in terms of your options for voting?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Was the poll worker able to explain how to use the ballot marking device (BMD) to you?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Was the BMD set up and working when you were ready to use it?<o:p></o:p></li><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>If not, what was the problem?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>How long did it take to resolve?<o:p></o:p></li></ul><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Anything else we should know about your voting experience?<o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Before 2/4, please ask sighted individuals voting in this election to keep track of what poll workers say to them in terms of their options for voting (e.g., are they directed only to hand-marking paper ballots or given the choice of using the BMDs? How was that choice phrased?)<o:p></o:p></li><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'>Please list these voters’ names, contact info, and, if you know, what they were told by poll workers.<o:p></o:p></li></ul></ul><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>