[NFBMO] Accessible Voting Discussion Continued

[Carol Coulter]

I agree with

On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 12:56 AM Shelia Wright via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> I think one of the reasons I have always avoided absentee voting is that
> one
> had to provide justification as to why they could not vote on election day.
> It seemed to me that disabled people were automatically approved because
> there was an assumption that we couldn't participate like others or that
> somehow it was a great hardship for us to do so. Of course, there were
> other
> circumstances that were approved but a reason had to be provided.
>
>
>
> Over time, many states have gone to early voting or have opened up absentee
> voting (removing the need to justify why you need to vote early).
> Accessible
> voting is still required.
>
>
>
> As for the traditional absentee mail ballot, I do not know whether it is
> open to everyone . However, it does not meet my needs as it does not allow
> me to cast a private ballot. I voted for many years using poll judges or a
> reader. I don't really want to go back to that. I am willing to be
> inconvenienced if necessary in hopes that it will help our needs be
> addressed however future election trends develop. I don't want blind and
> disabled people's needs to be an afterthought or for us to be left behind
> without any thought at all.
>
>
>
> Readers of this post may or may not agree with me but we rarely overcome
> any
> type of discrimination by following the most convenient or most expedient
> thing at the moment.
>
>
>
> I am so glad that in the past eighteen months, our county has started
> having
> the accessible machines at all elections. It has helped poll workers to be
> more proficient in setting up the machine. It has helped me be more
> proficient at navigating the ballot. I don't expect it too always go as
> smoothly as it did last week and I can't be sure that every blind voter
> throughout the county had a positive experience but there has certainly
> been
> progress here in Platte County and the Platte County Board of Elections
> knows about the advocacy work of the NFB. It also helps that the newer
> machines are much easier to set-up, program, and use. By the way, Missouri
> was among the first to apply and receive the additional funding last
> spring.
>
>
> Shelia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Shelia Wright, President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
>
> 7928 NW Milrey Drive, Kansas City, MO 64152
>
> 816-741-6402
>
> President at nfbmo.org <mailto:President at nfbmo.org>
>
> www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org>
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we
> work
> together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
>
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