<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:x="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:excel" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The House Ways and Means Committee will be holding a briefing on electronic ballot return for individuals with disabilities and military and overseas voters at 1PM on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. We need everyone who is available to attend this briefing. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We recognize that our Congressional appointments in Washington, DC are that day, so we’re are asking those who committed to going to DC from Baltimore in particular to consider shifting to Annapolis instead, and we’re asking those who are otherwise available to come as well. A van will leave NFB at 11:00AM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Rest assured, we are not leaving Washington unattended – we have a great group of folks from the Sligo Creek chapter, some of our students, and our BISM staff and students who will be in DC. I myself will split my day and start out in DC and then head to Annapolis, and then back to DC for the Congressional Reception. I may have a couple of seats in my transportation if someone wants to do that as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This briefing in Annapolis is vitally important, as we saw the agenda, and there are no blindness or accessibility experts scheduled to testify. In fact, the only expert that will testify is a security “supposed” expert who has been linked to the Stop the Steal campaign and has been discredited by his peers. He’s a fear-mongerer, and his research is dubious at best. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need blind people to show up to be seen so the General Assembly understands it can’t just ignore us, and it can’t use what we believe based on what we’ve seen and heard, is a poorly conducted study to silence us as we fight for our rights.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are able to go to Annapolis on Tuesday, please contact me by 5PM on Sunday. Please also tell me if you plan to take the transportation from the NFB. The van will leave at 11AM and we expect we will return roughly around 4PM. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ronza<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>