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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, Bonnie,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think that this is a great idea. I appreciate you sharing and the fact that there are action steps to take in the link make it very convenient to be able to help.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Nate Kile,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Program Director, Assistive Technology Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#1F497D">“Knowledge is light, love and vision” Helen Keller<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Equipping Alaskans for success <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">3903 Taft Drive<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Anchorage, Alaska 99517<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">907.248.7770<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">fax 907.248.7517<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Direct Line 907.444.3707<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Nkile@AlaskaBVI.org">Nkile@AlaskaBVI.org</a><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.alaskabvi.org">www.alaskabvi.org</a><span style="color:#1F497D">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/alaskabvi">www.facebook.com/alaskabvi</a><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Please consider supporting our mission.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> alaska-professionals-in-blind-education@googlegroups.com <alaska-professionals-in-blind-education@googlegroups.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>lucas.bonnie@gmail.com<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, March 22, 2022 8:46 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'NFB of Alaska Mailing List' <nfbofalaska@nfbnet.org>; alaska-professionals-in-blind-education@googlegroups.com<br>
<b>Cc:</b> 'Jocelyn Bucaro' <jocelyn@tuskphilanthropies.org>; 'Kaloc, Jeff' <JKaloc@nfb.org>; lblake@nfb.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> A bill introduced in the Alaska Legislature that will make voting completely Accessible. Please read and Act!<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As many of you know, the members of the National Federation of the Blind of Alaska have had discussions around making sure that voting is accessible for those who are blind or low vision, and frankly anyone with a disability needs to be
able to participate in elections equally. Sometime ago, I was contacted by Jocelyn Bucaro, the director of<span style="font-size:13.5pt"> Mobile Voting with Tusk Philanthropies. This is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing voter participation
by making voting as convenient and accessible as possible. They believe the best way to do that is to expand voting options to include digital absentee voting, including on a mobile device. They have supported mobile voting pilots in over 20 elections across
seven states since 2018. Most pilots have been for military and overseas citizen voters, with a handful of pilots expanding to include voters with disabilities and even all eligible voters. These pilots have proven the technology exists and we can increase
participation when we make voting easier and more accessible. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tusk Philanthropies is working with the NFB and other community partners. Both Jeff Kaloc and Lou Anne Blake from the NFB were included on the original letter sent to me. .
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since our initial discussion, bills have been introduced in both houses of the Alaska Legislature. We have been invited to click on the following link to view the “Call to Action page,” where supporters of this bill can submit emails to
their lawmakers through this site. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://action.mobilevoting.org/alaska/">https://action.mobilevoting.org/alaska/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The site is accessible!<span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😊</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As one who has had the opportunity to vote privately and independently, from time to time, the experience is empowering! Several states have adopted this method of voting and there is no reason Alaska should not do the same. If you have
questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for your support!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bonnie Lucas<br>
President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Alaska<br>
Cell: 907-301-6808<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Email: <a href="mailto:lucas.bonnie@gmail.com">
lucas.bonnie@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Web: <a href="https://alaskanfb.org/">alaskanfb.org</a><br>
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can
live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
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To view this discussion on the web visit <a href="https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/alaska-professionals-in-blind-education/004001d83e70%24e3669600%24aa33c200%24%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer">
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/alaska-professionals-in-blind-education/004001d83e70%24e3669600%24aa33c200%24%40gmail.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
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