[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Update: Notice of Public Hearing on Friday, January 22, 2021

Sun Jan 17 00:50:08 UTC 2021

it makes perfect sense to me. we can easily support this bill.

On 1/16/2021 7:04 AM, BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER via NFBMT wrote:
> Most bills have a summary at the beginning, stating what it covers and what
> it wants to change.
>
>   
>
> SENATE BILL NO. 15
>
> INTRODUCED BY J. ELLIS
>
> BY REQUEST OF THE STATE ADMINISTRATION AND VETERAN AFFAIRS INTERIM COMMITTEE
>
>   
>
> A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING ELECTION LAWS RELATED
> TO ACCESSIBILITY FOR DISABLED ELECTORS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF VOTER
> INTERFACE DEVICES;
>
> REVISING DEFINITIONS;
>
> CLARIFYING PROVISIONS ON DESIGNATED AGENTS;
>
> REVISING REFERENCES TO APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS;
>
> REVISING ELECTION COST PROVISIONS;
>
> REVISING TIMELINES;
>
> APPLYING ACCESSIBILITY PROVISIONS TO ALL ELECTIONS
>
> AND REQUIRING VOTER INTERFACE DEVICES BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL ELECTIONS;
>
> PROVIDING AND REVISING EXCEPTIONS;
>
> REVISING ACCESSIBILITY OF POLLING PLACES;
>
> REVISING ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR DISABLED ELECTORS TO CAST BALLOTS AND
> RECEIVE ASSISTANCE; REVISING THE PENALTY PROVISION FOR DECEIVING A DISABLED
> ELECTOR;
>
> AMENDING SECTIONS 13-1-101, 13-1-116, 13-1-203, 13-1-302, 13-3-14-105,
> 13-3-201, 13-3-202, 13-3-206, 13-3-208, 13-3-212, 13-3-213, 13-13-118,
> 13-13-119, 13-13-229, 13-13-
>
> 246, 13-19-205, 13-35-202, AND 13-35-208, MCA; AND PROVIDING A DELAYED
> EFFECTIVE DATE."
>
>   
>
> It is 22 pages long, so let me try to hit the high points.
>
>   
>
> It has a whole bunch of definitions in it, including describing what a ballot
> is, what a mail-in ballot is, what an absentee ballot is, what a provisional
> ballot is, what an electronic ballot is, what a voter is, what a voter with a
> disability is, what a disability is, what a candidate is, what a polling
> place is, what an election administrator does, what a voter interface device
> is, training for polling place workers and paying the cost of such training,
> how votes should be counted or discounted, how to determine the validity of a
> ballot, and so on.
>
>   
>
> Currently, according to HAVA, (Help America Vote Act), a voter interface
> device (a voting system that is accessible to electors with disabilities) is
> only available for Federal primary elections and general elections; this bill
> wants such a device to be available for all elections, including county,
> city, and school elections.
>
>   
>
> It discusses the training of polling place workers to assist a disabled voter
> if necessary, but to preserve the voter's privacy, independence, and secrecy
> rights while processing their vote, even if the vote is cast in such a way
> that it is ultimately transcribed onto a standard ballot and counted with the
> rest.  It also wants a voter with a disability to be able to vote via email
> or an electronic vote delivery system that is totally accessible to a voter
> with a disability from start to finish.
>
>   
>
> It discusses situations where a polling place might be too far away for a
> disabled voter to get to, and that a voting place should be accessible to a
> disabled voter.  There are also provisions where a voter with a disability
> can cast a vote curbside, or can have a polling place worker come to their
> residence with a voter interface device so that they can cast their ballot.
>
>   
>
> If a voter with a disability cannot provide a signature, there are other
> marks that they can make on the ballot envelope that can be accepted other
> than a signature, including a fingerprint.  Someone else they designate can
> also sign for them, and the bill also discusses who cannot sign for them.
>
>   
>
> It also discusses encouraging poll workers to let the general voting public
> know that a voter interface device is not just for the use of voters with
> disabilities, and that they can and should use it, too.
>
>   
>
> If you read it and just remember that the beginning of each line is numbered
> and just try to ignore those numbers, it's not too difficult to get through.
> Each page is identified at the beginning and the end.  Laws are referenced,
> which means something to somebody.
>
>   
>
> If you have any questions, try to read through it or ask me and I'll try to
> answer them.  From what I can tell from my reading of it, this is something
> that will go a long way toward making sure we can vote privately,
> independently, and securely.  Joy
>
>   
>
> From: BRUCE&JOY BRESLAUER <breslauerj at gmail.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2021 10:04 PM
> To: nfbmt <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Montana Legislative Update: Notice of Public Hearing on Friday,
> January 22, 2021
>
>   
>
> Hello, fellow Montana Federationists.
>
>   
>
> A draft of Senate bill SB15, which seeks to revise election laws related to
> accessibility for disabled electors, has been referred to the State
> Administration Committee for its first public hearing, which will take place
> at 3:00 PM on January 22, 2021.  These dates are always subject to change
> with very little notice. See below.
>
>   
>
> Friday, January 20, 2021
>
> At 3:00 pm, the Senate State Administration Committee will hear SB 15,
> "Revise election laws related to accessibility for disabled electors."
>
>   
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T25117135-5663-4440-8d98-c11fcc62d1dd/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Click here to read this bill.
>
> This bill was drafted by the interim State Administration and Veterans
> Affairs Committee, which sought out input from all stakeholders.  This bill
> addresses the availability of accessible voting machines, including assuring
> their use in school and other non-federal elections. It also makes various
> changes regarding the use of registered agents for voting, referring to
> applicable federal law, accessibility of polling places, and protecting
> people with disabilities' ability to cast ballots and receive voting
> assistance.
>
> It is sponsored by Sen. Janet Ellis and will be heard in room 335.
>
>   
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T01a39a05-a1b3-4428-b7a3-156bb0ec056d/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Click here for the contact information for the
> Senate State Administration Committee.
>
>   
>
> You may testify in favor of this bill either remotely or in person, or you
> may send in written testimony.
>
>
>   
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/Tecc877c9-5af2-49b5-925c-1cdcd6ed7602/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Click Here to Testify Remotely or Submit
> Written Testimony
>
>
>   
>
>
> You can now provide testimony without coming to the Capitol:
>
>
>   <https://leg.mt.gov/public-testimony> Request To Testify Remotely/Upload
> Your Testimony
>
>
>   
> <http://laws.leg.mt.gov/reports/rwservlet?legprdext&report=LAW0635R.rdf&p_ses
> sion_Id=20211&paramform=yes> View Hearing Schedule
>
>   <https://leg.mt.gov/faq-remote-testimony> View FAQs For Remote Testimony
>
>   
>
>
> You can also still provide public comment how you used to:
>
>
>   <https://leg.mt.gov/web-messaging> Send A Web Message To A
> Legislator/Committee
>
> Call the Information Desk at 406.444.4800
>
> Mail Comments to:
> Montana State Legislature
> State Capitol
> PO Box 201706
> Helena, MT 59620-1706
>
>   
>
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>   
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>
>
> To listen to audio/video streaming of committee hearings,
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T287c518f-c063-451f-a49f-8fe1bcdbb30e/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85>  click here.
>
>
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>   
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>
> How to Contact Legislators During the Session
>
>
> Online Messaging
>
>
> Use the online messaging form to message a legislator (click button below).
> This is one of the quickest and most effective ways of contacting your
> legislator.
>
>
> Phone Call
>
>
> Regular office hours during the session are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and
> 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays. Callers may leave messages for
> legislators or acquire general legislative information by calling the
> Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. Callers may leave messages for up to 5
> individual legislators or 1 legislative committee per call.
>
>
>
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>   
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T1f98205a-4ae4-437b-bd81-bab092158b9e/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Message a Legislator Now
>
>
>
>
> Not sure who represents you in the Montana Legislature?
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T581f76f4-58e7-4c65-b08b-2db15673e6a4/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Click Here
>
>
>   
>
> Legislative Meetings & Hearings are Streamed and Recorded
>
>   <http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en> Watch/Listen To Meetings
>
>   
>
> How to Contact Legislators During the Session
>
> Online Messaging
>
> Use the online messaging form to message a legislator (click button below).
> This is one of the quickest and most effective ways of contacting your
> legislator.
>
> Phone Call
>
> Regular office hours during the session are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and
> 8 a.m. to adjournment on Saturdays. Callers may leave messages for
> legislators or acquire general legislative information by calling the
> Information Desk at (406) 444-4800. Callers may leave messages for up to 5
> individual legislators or 1 legislative committee per call.
>
>
> Not sure who represents you in the Montana Legislature?
> <https://default.salsalabs.org/T581f76f4-58e7-4c65-b08b-2db15673e6a4/8f0c3288
> -d692-4771-8eaa-55820487dc85> Click Here
>
>
>   
>
> Joy Breslauer, First Vice President
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana
>
> Web Site: 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.
>
>   
>
>   
>
>   
>
> Joy Breslauer, First Vice President
>
> 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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