<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Isn’t it time
to be able to vote independently and privately, using your own computer and assistive
technology at home? Remember the issues you have had at your local polling
place or while completing a mail-in ballot. The ADA and the Help America Vote
Act provide the right to vote independently and privately. The 2024
Presidential Election is coming soon and we need a full-court press to ensure our
participation using accessible electronic ballots which is permitted in 14
states.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">What’s the plan
to enact this voting methodology in New Jersey? The NJ Coalition for Accessible
Voting is asking each of you to call, e-mail or write snail mail letters to NJ
Legislative Committees members considering S. 3302 in the Senate.<span></span></font><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large">Please share this alert far and wide!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Please indicate
if you also are a constituent and message your legislators. We have the best chance to pass our
legislation THIS YEAR as legislators know our votes count! Our opportunity is
NOW!<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">We have an
uphill battle as Common Cause and the Brennan Justice Center are objecting to
our bills because of unfounded security concerns. Included below are some
talking points to use in your emails. Please tailor your messages to be in
your own voice; please don’t just copy and paste text, especially to your Senator
but feel free to use what is listed below as a start. <span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">It would be
enormously helpful if you would send your messages as soon as possible. Please
let us know if you receive a reply. Exercising our right to vote is a linchpin
that makes our democracy run. There’s a lot of information to take in but I am
confident each of us is up to the task.<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">To review S3302 click on the link below:</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><a href="https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/S3302" target="_blank">NJ Legislature (state.nj.us)</a><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">When you call or email, you might say the
following:<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am
a constituent of [SENATOR NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge
[SENATOR NAME] to cosponsor S. 3302. This legislation requires availability
of accessible mail-in ballots for voters with disabilities. This bill removes a
voting barrier commonly experienced by blind Americans who cannot vote remotely
using a paper ballot.</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thirteen states allow accessible absentee voting for
voters with disabilities and New Jersey allows uniformed and overseas voters to
vote absentee by the same provisions included in this legislation. New Jersey
needs to be added to that list and let voters with disabilities vote with the
same privacy and independence as voters without disabilities. <span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thanks."<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">You can contact your Senators by calling the
Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is <a href="tel:+1800-792-8630" target="_blank"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,59,92)">800-792-8630</span></b></a>.
If you email your Representatives and senators, please copy J<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">eff Kaloc at</span> <span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org" target="_blank">jkaloc@nfb.org</a></span> and Lou Ann Blake at <a href="mailto:lblake@nfb.org" target="_blank">lblake@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make
a difference. <span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4"><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Thank you for all that you do,<span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" size="4">Linda Melendez, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of NJ<br>
908-590-1747<br>
<a href="mailto:President@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">President@nfbnj.org</a></font> <font face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size:14pt"><span></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>