<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:large"><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Dear
NFBNJ Members and Friends:<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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?<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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.<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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!<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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. <span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Contact
information for the five State Senators as well as additional directions and
suggested talking points follow my signature.<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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</span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> required by Dec.4 at:
<br>
<a href="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" target="_blank">https://forms.gle/n6Ky2z8gUZnMia1V8</a><span><span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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.<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Please
let me know if you receive a response from any of the Senators. </span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:14pt">If
we all work together on this effort, this just could be the year we get the
capacity to vote independently and privately.</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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. T</span></span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:18.6667px">hank you in advance.</span><span style="font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:18.6667px"> </span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Warmly,<br>
Linda Melendez, President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of NJ<br>
<a href="mailto:president@nfbnj.org" target="_blank">president@nfbnj.org</a><u> <br>
908-590-1747<span></span></u></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<h1><span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">Senator Committee List<span></span></span></span></h1>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Here
is the list If you aren’t sure whether any of the five senators represents your
district, check </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.njleg.gov/" target="_blank">www.njleg.gov</a><span> or call
the NJ State House switchboard, 800-792-8630. This number also will connect you
with the individual Senate offices.<span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><br></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Senator James Beach)
Committee Chair) - </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="tel:+18564291572" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">(856) 429-1572</span></span></a><span><b><i> </i></b></span><a href="mailto:SenBeach@njleg.org" target="_blank">SenBeach@njleg.org</a><span> </span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Senator
Vin Gopal – 732-695-3371 </span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:sengopal@njleg.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">sengopal@njleg.org</span></span></a><span> </span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Senator
James Holzapfel - </span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="tel:+17328409028" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">(732) 840-9028</span></span></a><span> </span><a href="mailto:senholzapfel@njleg.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">senholzapfel@njleg.org</span></span></a><span> </span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Senator Vincent</span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">
</span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Polistina</span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">
</span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="tel:+16096778266" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">(609) 677-8266</span></span></a><span> </span><a href="mailto:senpolistina@njleg.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">senpolistina@njleg.org</span></span></a><span> </span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Senator
Shirley Turner </span></span><span style="text-indent:0.5in;font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="tel:+16093237239" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">(609) 323-7239</span></span></a><span> </span><a href="mailto:SenTurner@njleg.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">SenTurner@njleg.org</span></span></a><span> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;vertical-align:baseline"><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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 </span></span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">jkaloc@nfb.org</span></span></a><span>
and Lou Ann Blake at </span><a href="mailto:lblake@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span><span style="color:blue">lblake@nfb.org</span></span></a><span>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.</span><span> </span></span></p>
<h1><span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%">Talking Pointa:</span></span></h1><div><span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%"><p style="margin:0in;break-after:avoid;vertical-align:baseline"></p><ul><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Request
that S3302 be passed out of committee and moved to the full Senate and
Legislature before the new legislative session begins.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Note
that 13 other states already allow electronic mobile voting.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Also
point out that military members stationed overseas and US citizens living
abroad also are permitted to vote using electronic return ballots.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">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.</span></span></li><li><span><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Tahoma,sans-serif">Be
sure to thank the Senator for his/her time.</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%"><br></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>