[NFBNJ] Your Action needed TODAY; URGENT and IMPORTANT

[Annemarie Cooke]

The Office of Legislative Services indicates  all who plan to testify
should bring 10-12 copie sof their testimony for distribution to the
committee members.
Also, UI  am uncertain about security at the State House, but please
do bring a photo ID of some official origin in case it is needed.

Thanks,
Annemarie Cooke

On 2/14/23, Linda Melendez via NFBNJ <nfbnj at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> As members of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, and as
> a voting resident of New Jersey our support is vital for passage of
> Assembly Bill A4746 / Senate S3302 that would provide for accessible voting
> from home and Electronic Ballot Transmission of our ballots to and from our
> County Clerk’s office. Please share far and wide with blind and sighted
> individuals asking family, friends, co-workers, classmates, fellow
> worshipers and other blindness and disability organizations to submit
> testimony in favor of passing these bills.
>
>
>
> On Thursday, February 16, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee
> will be hearing testimony at 2 p.m. from those of us wishing to personally
> make our case. If you cannot come to Trenton on Thursday, here is the link
> for submitting your letter of support.
>
> https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A4746/bill-text?f=A5000&n=4746_I1
>
>
>
>
> Testimony is limited to three minutes (there will be a sound and a light
> cue when your time is up) so it’s important to summarize your points
> briefly and succinctly. Keep your testimony to one page or shorter and be
> sure to include your name, your town of residence and your State
> Legislative District. This is specific to New Jersey municipalities and is
> different from our respective Congressional districts.
>
>
>
> First, read the bill using the link below or pasted after my signature
> block. Then, in your own words, write about why a totally accessible
> electronic way of having to vote is important to you. Remember those
> pre-COVID times when you held up the line at your local polling place
> because staff didn’t know where the accessible voting device was or how to
> set it up? I am sure you can think of other times you wished you could vote
> on your own computer from your own home, vote privately and independently
> without having to rely on family or friends for assistance.
>
> https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/assembly-committees/contact?committee=ASL
>
>
>
>
> Title II of the ADA requires that voters with disabilities have the same
> opportunity to vote privately and independently as voters without
> disabilities.
>
> Problems with only having Electronic Ballot Transmission
>
> are:
>
>
>
>    - Many blind voters do not own a printer.
>    - Even if a printer is owned, there is no verification that what is
>    printed is correct which requires sighted assistance, therefore,
> comprising
>    privacy of the ballot.
>    - Having to provide a signature is problematic as it may require sighted
>    assistance.
>    - Electronic Ballot Transmission provides alternatives to signature
>    matching.
>
>
>
> If you plan to testify in person, please register by clicking on the link
> below. Please wear business attire as if you were participating in
> Washington Seminar. Bring several copies of your testimony with you as they
> likely will be distributed to the legislators who are present. You must
> register by 3 p.m. Wednesday February 15. The address for the hearing is
> the State House Annex, Fourth Floor, Committee Room 13. Please arrive no
> later than 1:45 p.m. sharp.
>
>
>
> https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/live-proceedings/2023-02-16-14:00:00/ASL/Meeting
>
>
>
>
> Warmly,
> Linda Melendez, President
> National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
> 908-590-1747
> presidnet at nfbnj.org
>
>
>
>
> Bill A4746
>
> Session 2022 - 2023
>
>
>
>
> ASSEMBLY, No. 4746
>
> STATE OF NEW JERSEY
>
> 220th LEGISLATURE
>
>
>
> INTRODUCED OCTOBER 11, 2022
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Sponsored by:
>
> Assemblyman  LOUIS D. GREENWALD
>
> District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
>
> Assemblywoman  ELLEN J. PARK
>
> District 37 (Bergen)
>
> Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON
>
> District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
>
>
>
> Co-Sponsored by:
>
> Assemblyman Conaway and Assemblywoman McKnight
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> SYNOPSIS
>
>      Requires availability of accessible mail-in ballot for voters with
> disabilities.
>
>
>
> CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
>
>      As introduced.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> An Act concerning an accessible mail-in ballot for voters with disabilities
> and supplementing P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1 et seq.).
>
>
>
>      Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
> Jersey:
>
>
>
>      1.    a.  Whenever a county clerk receives a request from a voter with
> a disability for an accessible mail-in ballot, that ballot shall be sent to
> that voter by electronic means and shall be completed and submitted by the
> voter as provided in this section. Upon receipt of a request for an
> accessible mail-in ballot from a voter with a disability, the county clerk
> shall verify that the voter is registered to vote and is eligible to vote
> in the State and the county. If the voter is eligible to vote therein, the
> county clerk shall send the accessible mail-in ballot to the voter by
> electronic means using the telephone number or electronic address supplied
> by the voter for that purpose.
>
>      b.    The accessible mail-ballot shall contain features to enable a
> voter with a disability to understand the contents of the ballot, mark up
> the voter’s selections on the ballot, make any desired changes, verify that
> the marked-up ballot accurately reflects the voter’s selections, complete
> the ballot, and print a copy of the completed ballot and any other
> necessary materials to submit the ballot to the county board of elections
> by regular mail, hand delivery, using a ballot drop box, or by electronic
> means if the voter is “electronic return eligible” as provided under
> subsection d. of this section. Key features of the accessible mail-in
> ballot shall include, but may not be limited to:
>
>      (1) electronic delivery of and access to the ballot and related
> materials;
>
>      (2) readability of the ballot using an electronic interface that
> provides guided prompts that enunciate the contents of the ballot to the
> voter;
>
>      (3) ability to electronically mark the ballot reflecting the voter’s
> selections, and to reflect any changes made by the voter to those
> selections;
>
>      (4) confirmation of the voter’s selections prior to final completion
> of the marked-up ballot;
>
>      (5) ability to print the ballot and related materials as provided
> under subsection c. of this section immediately upon completion, or to
> generate an electronic file containing those materials for printing and
> submitting to the county board of elections at a later date;
>
>      (6) ability to return the ballot by electronic means if the voter is
> “electronic return eligible” as provided under subsection d. of this
> section;
>
>      (7) clear and comprehensive instructions for the voter to follow in
> completing and submitting the ballot; and
>
>      (8) any additional features deemed necessary by the Secretary of
> State, in consultation with county clerks and county boards of elections.
>
>      c.     After the accessible mail-ballot is received and completed by
> the voter by indicating the voter’s choice of candidates for the offices
> named or the voter’s choice regarding a public question, or both, the
> ballot and related materials shall be printed, unless the voter is eligible
> to return the ballot by electronic means as provided under subsection d. of
> this section. Along with the completed ballot, the printed materials shall
> include any materials necessary for submitting the voted ballot, including
> an inner envelope for inserting the ballot, the certificate of mail-in
> voter attached to the inner envelope, any disability certificate that may
> be required, and a pre-addressed postage pre-paid outer envelope for
> mailing the completed ballot and materials to the county board of
> elections. The voter shall be instructed to place the completed ballot in
> the secure inner envelope and seal that envelope, sign the certificate of
> mail-in voter and any disability certificate that may be required, and
> place all of those materials in the outer envelope and seal that envelope.
> The voter shall submit the sealed envelope to the appropriate county board
> of elections in any manner authorized under P.L.2009, c.79 (C.19:63-1 et
> seq.) by regular mail, hand delivery, or by ballot drop box.
>
>      d.    Notwithstanding any provision of subsection c. of this section
> to the contrary, a voter who is “electronic return eligible” shall be
> permitted to return the mail-in ballot by electronic means. As used in this
> subsection, “electronic return eligible” means a voter who, regardless of
> any other disability:
>
>      (1) is blind;
>
>      (2) has a visual impairment or perceptual or reading disability that
> cannot be improved to give visual function substantially equivalent to that
> of a person who has no such impairment or disability and therefore is
> unable to read or mark a ballot to substantially the same degree as a
> person without an impairment or disability; or
>
>      (3) is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold, mark,
> or manipulate a ballot or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that
> would be normally acceptable for reading or marking a ballot.
>
>      e.     The Secretary of State, in consultation with county clerks and
> county boards of elections, shall issue uniform guidelines for all election
> officials to follow in the implementation of the provisions of this
> section.
>
>
>
>
>      2.    This act shall take effect immediately.
>
>
> STATEMENT
>
>
>
>      This bill requires the availability of an accessible mail-in ballot
> for voters with disabilities.
>
>      Under current law, registered voters may apply to vote by mail and may
> receive a mail-in ballot to be completed by hand. Although the law
> prohibits any person other than the voter to complete the ballot, the law
> allows persons who need assistance in completing the mail-in ballot to have
> a family member provide them that assistance.
>
>      Under this bill, the county clerk would be required to provide an
> accessible mail-in ballot for any voter with a disability that requests
> one, provided the voter is registered to vote and is entitled to vote in
> that county in this State. The bill requires the accessible mail-ballot to
> contain features to enable a voter with a disability to understand the
> contents of the ballot, mark-up voting choices, make changes, verify the
> final voting choices made on the ballot, complete the ballot, and print the
> completed ballot and related materials such as certificates and envelopes.
> The bill specifies key features of the accessible mail-in ballot. These
> would include, but would not be limited to, electronic delivery and access;
> readability with guided audible prompts; ability to mark the ballot
> reflecting the voter’s selections; confirmation of the voter’s selections
> prior to final completion; ability to print the ballot and related
> materials or to generate an electronic file for printing and submitting to
> the county board of elections at a later date; ability to return the ballot
> by electronic means if the voter is eligible to do so; clear and
> comprehensive instructions; and any additional features deemed necessary.
>
>      Upon completion, the voter would then submit their ballot and
> necessary materials by mail, in person, or using a ballot drop box in the
> manner provided under current law. If the voter is “electronic return
> eligible,” the voter would be permitted to return the mail-in ballot by
> electronic means. Under the bill, “electronic return eligible” means a
> voter who, regardless of any other disability: is blind; has a visual
> impairment or perceptual or reading disability that cannot be improved to
> give visual function substantially equivalent to that of a person who has
> no such impairment or disability and therefore is unable to read or mark a
> ballot to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment
> or disability; or is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to
> hold, mark, or manipulate a ballot or to focus or move the eyes to the
> extent that would be normally acceptable for reading or marking a ballot.
>
>      Finally, the Secretary of State, in consultation with county clerks
> and county boards of elections, is directed to issue uniform guidelines for
> election officials to follow for implementing the accessible ballot
> provisions.
>
>
>
> Warmly,
> Linda Melendez, President
> National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
> 908-590-1747
> president at nfbnj.org
> *www.nfbnj.org* <http://www.nfbnj.org/>
> *Facebook: **https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238*
> <https://m.facebook.com/NFB-NJ-353099574776238>
>
> To schedule a 30-minute meeting about the National Federation of the Blind
> of New Jersey please click on the link below
> https://calendly.com/nfbnj/30min
>


-- 
Annemarie Cooke