[NFBNJ] S3302 Accessible Voting Critical Legislative Alert: Important Action Required

[Linda Melendez]

Dear NFBNJ Members and Friends:



No doubt about it – this is the craziest time of year for most of us, what
with holiday preparations, end of year assignments for students and for
folks involved in finance. So why would we be asking you for just 30
minutes of your valuable time to write five short e-mails or make five
brief phone calls?



Making the time to do these things could get you the right to vote
independently and privately here in New Jersey, something that you have yet
to experience if you are a blind or visually impaired adult despite
guarantees through the ADA and Help America Vote Act.



Our state Legislature is in what is known as a “lame duck” session, tying
up loose ends in Trenton prior to the swearing-in of the new members of the
Senate and Assembly in January. If we miss this opportunity to get bill
S-3302 passed, our efforts will be set back by many months so NOW is the
time for all NFBNJ members to take action!



A companion bill to our Electronic Mobile Voting Act A3736, passed the
Assembly earlier this year. Now the Senate version, S-3302, has been stuck
in Committee and we all need to ask the committee members to approve this
bill and move it to the entire Senate for a vote.



Contact information for the five State Senators as well as additional
directions and suggested talking points follow my signature.



You also should invite these legislators to participate in a mock election
using the latest prototype of electronic accessible voting. The
demonstration will take place on line from December 5-9 and advanced
registration is required by Dec.4 at:
https://forms.gle/n6Ky2z8gUZnMia1V8
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fmobilevoting.us20.list-manage.com%2Ftrack%2Fclick%3Fu%3Db3b29b60af017849d735de594%26id%3D8bec620944%26e%3De0823ee16f&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw2iIpUiAp8ARtKelWtjAWGe>



The NFBNJ is part of the NJ Coalition for Accessible Voting. If the bill
becomes law, each qualified voter will receive their ballot through a
secure channel, complete it using our individual assistive technology and
then return the completed ballot on the same channel. The Brennan Center
for Justice and Common Cause have filed objections to our bill, citing
unfounded security concerns. Because of these highly-publicized objections,
we are faced with an uphill battle.



Please let me know if you receive a response from any of the Senators. If
we all work together on this effort, this just could be the year we get the
capacity to vote independently and privately.



Even though we all have busy lives, I am confident we are up to the task at
hand. Please complete your communications no later than Dec. 4. Please
share this request far and wide with your community and network. Thank you
in advance.



Warmly,
Linda Melendez, President
National Federation of the Blind of NJ
president at nfbnj.org
* 908-590-1747*


Senator Committee List

Here is the list If you aren’t sure whether any of the five senators
represents your district, check www.njleg.gov or call the NJ State House
switchboard, 800-792-8630. This number also will connect you with the
individual Senate offices.


Senator James Beach) Committee Chair) - (856) 429-1572 <+18564291572>
SenBeach at njleg.org

Senator Vin Gopal – 732-695-3371 sengopal at njleg.org

Senator James Holzapfel - (732) 840-9028 <+17328409028>
senholzapfel at njleg.org

Senator Vincent Polistina (609) 677-8266 <+16096778266>
senpolistina at njleg.org

Senator Shirley Turner (609) 323-7239 <+16093237239> SenTurner at njleg.org



Please create your verbal or written messages in your own style and voice;
don’t just copy and paste the talking points! And do note the name of the
person with whom you spoke.  If you opt for e-mail messages, please copy
NFB national staff members Jeff Kaloc at jkaloc at nfb.org and Lou Ann Blake
at lblake at nfb.org. Your calls and emails do make a difference.
Talking Pointa:


   - Identify yourself and note you are a member of the National Federation
   of the Blind of NJ. Also note whether you are a constituent of that
   Senator. Include your address and phone number if requested.
   - Request that S3302 be passed out of committee and moved to the full
   Senate and Legislature before the new legislative session begins.
   - Note that 13 other states already allow electronic mobile voting.
   - Also point out that military members stationed overseas and US
   citizens living abroad also are permitted to vote using electronic return
   ballots.
   - Security concerns are unfounded as the anticipated voting system does
   not directly use the Internet – invite them to register to test the latest
   version of the software between Dec. 4 and Dec. 9.
   - If time permits, share a brief story of your own difficulties voting
   in person or with a mail-in ballot. Point out that all you want to do is
   exercise your legal right to vote privately and independently by removing
   the current barrier.
   - Be sure to thank the Senator for his/her time.
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