[NFBMT] LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SB 291 REVISE LAWS ON VOTING SYSTEMS AND BALLOT FORM

Mon Apr 1 20:38:35 UTC 2019

It was called to my attention in senior buildings, the blind have to 
get help voting, because they don't want to cause trouble asking for 
the machine to work for us as well.
I really felt bad they felt this way.
If I had to have to have someone help me vote again this way I would 
rather do a balet at home and mail it.

Original message:
> I certainly don't want to go back to the days of having someone else in the
> voting booth with me to assist me in voting, although that is still an option
> for those who want it.  I want my vote to be cast with as little outside
> intervention or interference as possible.  Not only is that my desire, but
> also my right as a U.S. citizen, in my opinion.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Denise via NFBMT
> Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2019 7:50 PM
> To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: denisejmoses at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SB 291 REVISE LAWS ON VOTING SYSTEMS
> AND BALLOT FORM

> Joy,
> I totally agree with you.  We have had great luck & no problems with the Auto
> mark machines.  I hope they could create an accessible online ballot we could
> fill out & that it couldn't be hacked, changed & private.
> I remember years ago when we had to either take someone with us to read the
> ballot & fill it out for us or have an official do it for us.  I hated that.
> I hope congress will listen to us.
> Denise
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via
> NFBMT
> Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2019 5:55 PM
> To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SB 291 REVISE LAWS ON VOTING SYSTEMS
> AND BALLOT FORM

> I am for the machines, too, but if they are becoming obsolete and hard to
> repair and they are going to put them out of service, I want to make sure
> that whatever they go to is accessible to us and preserves our right to vote
> privately and independently.  I for one have had excellent experiences with
> the AutoMARK and the people who are there to service it when it malfunctions.
> If people have problems with their voting experience, there is a phone number
> to call to complain.  I don't know what they are moving to, but I want to be
> one of the ones who helps make the decision.  Nothing about us without us.
> They had better ask us what works for us instead of assuming something will
> that won't.  Joy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dar via NFBMT
> Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2019 8:11 AM
> To: NFB of Montana Discussion List <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Dar <dmgina at mysero.net>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] LEGISLATIVE ALERT: SB 291 REVISE LAWS ON VOTING SYSTEMS
> AND BALLOT FORM

> What I don't understand, is we made such a fuss over the machines, now we
> want to make sure we can vote from home.
> I feel folks got unhapppy with the help from others to vote, now we want it
> different again.
> I would stick with the machines.
> To be out in public working with others to vote is more important than
> staying home.
> Just my thoughts.
> I am not for the paper balets.

> Dar
> Every Saint has a past,
> Every sinner has a future, Sent from my iPad

>> On Mar 29, 2019, at 11:17 PM, BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via NFBMT
>> <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>> Hello, fellow Montana Federationists.

>> SB 291, the bill to revise laws on voting systems and ballot form,
>> will have a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2 at 8:00 A.M. before the
>> House State Administration Committee.

>> It already sailed through the Senate, and now it's the House's turn to
>> consider SB 291.  We should make our voices heard concerning our
>> desire to vote privately and independently, and our desire to assure
>> that our ballots are the same as everyone else uses.  Since there are
>> no voting machines available now that comply with our wishes, the only
>> other option is to push for integration of the machines so that an
>> increased number and diversity of voters will use them

>> If I can find transportation to Helena, I will be going to represent us.
>> Regardless of whether I am able to go, I sent in my testimony.  See below.

>> Snip snip

>> I am writing as an individual who is blind, and also as the first vice
>> president of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, the
>> largest consumer advocacy and civil rights organization in the United
>> States, consisting of over fifty thousand members, and with chapters
>> in all fifty states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto
>> Rico.  The only way I would be for this bill is if all voters were
>> encouraged to use the same voting technology, so that the ballots of
>> disabled voters cannot be distinguished from those of nondisabled
>> voters.  I would feel better if our privacy and secrecy rights were
>> built in to the process from the beginning, rather than added on as a
>> rather clumsy afterthought.  The ballots used by the disabled should
>> be of the same size and content as those used by the nondisabled
>> population.  that is the only way to guarantee the secrecy and privacy
>> of voting which every other citizen enjoys.  I can't stress this
>> strongly enough.  thank you for taking my concerns into consideration.

>> 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.

>> Snip snip

>> If you would like to leave a message for a legislator, you can call
>> 406-444-4800 and operators will take a message that will be forwarded
>> to legislators.  Please be aware that they will ask for your name and
>> address, which will not be shared other than with the legislator. The
>> operators can take a message for up to 5 legislators at one time or to
>> an entire committee.

>> You may also contact legislators using the online web message form.

>> https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging/

>> Joy Breslauer, First Vice President and Public Policies Committee
>> chair

>> National Federation of the Blind of Montana

>> Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/>

>> Live the life you want

>> 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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-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future