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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Federation Family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Unfortunately, there isn’t good news from the Maryland General Assembly concerning our Electronic Ballot Return bill, HB0775 / SB0802. To the bafflement of everyone, the House Ways and Means Committee failed to take any action on this bill, even though the NFB of Maryland and the Save Our Votes Coalition came to an agreement on a way forward. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Essentially, this was originally a bill to implement internet-based return of vote-by mail ballots for voters with disabilities. We later amended the bill to replace the internet return method with a physical return of an electronic ballot using physical media to save the electronic ballot, such as a flash drive or SD card. Then, after working with and coming to an agreement with the Save Our Votes Coalition, including League of Women Voters, Brennan Center, and others, we agreed that this year’s bill would be come an interim study of feasibility, accessibility, and security features and solutions for the physical return of an electronic ballot method. Though the Ways and Means Committee Vice Chair indicated she would move this study, she did not, and the bill died with no action on Monday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are of course very frustrated, but we’re not done. We will work in the interim with our friends in the Maryland Senate and the Save Our Votes Coalition – and anyone else interested in partnering with us – to develop legislation to ensure that every Marylander who is blind, low vision, or otherwise print disabled, to be able to privately, independently, and accessibly vote a by mail ballot. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is incredibly meaningful that the Save Our Votes Coalition and NFBMD have come together to jointly problem-solve, rather than sitting on opposite sides of the issue blocking each other. This, at least, is a tremendous win for all of us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks for all you do – even though we didn’t win this particular battle, we’re still very much a major player in the war and won’t stop until we win it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><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>