[Nfbofsc] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for the Blind

Tue Mar 27 21:40:03 UTC 2018

Steve and Shannon Cook

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October 11, 2003

From: NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2018 8:38 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for
the Blind

Ohio Requires Accessible Absentee Ballots for the Blind

Directive Comes after Litigation brought by Blind Voters

Columbus, Ohio (March 26, 2018): Blind voters in Ohio must be able to cast
absentee ballots privately and independently, according to a recent
directive from Secretary of State John Husted.

The directive comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth
Circuit ruled that a lawsuit brought by the National Federation of the Blind
and three blind voters could go forward. Plaintiffs were represented by
Disability Rights Ohio and Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP. The suit sought a
court order to require Husted's office to provide accessible ballot-marking
solutions. The state had tried to have the lawsuit thrown out, arguing that
accessible absentee ballots were not required by the Americans with
Disabilities Act.

Under the directive, the state's local boards of elections must make remote
ballot-marking systems available to voters who are blind or who have other
disabilities in time for the November 2018 election. These systems can be
used alongside Braille or screen reader technology, which reads the text on
a computer's screen as spoken words, to allow blind voters to mark their
absentee ballots without assistance. The ballot can then be printed and
mailed to the local board of elections, just like any other absentee ballot.
The system will also benefit voters who are deaf-blind or who have other
disabilities that prevent them from visiting a polling place or marking a
traditional ballot.

"With these changes, I hope to finally be able to cast an absentee ballot by
myself, without any help from a sighted friend or family member, thus
maintaining confidentiality, and not have the worry of getting to a polling
location, just like any other Ohio voter," said Shelbi Hindel, one of the
three named plaintiffs on the lawsuit. "I hope that other people with
disabilities across Ohio will take advantage of this important new option."

"Secretary Husted's decision to respect the rights of blind absentee voters
instead of continuing to litigate the issue is a victory for the blind of
Ohio and the nation," said Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. "The kind of ballot-marking solution that the blind
of Ohio requested has been successfully implemented in other states and will
allow blind Ohioans to make their voting selections privately and
independently. The National Federation of the Blind urges voting
jurisdictions throughout the United States to adopt similar systems."

"Disability Rights Ohio is pleased that Secretary of State Husted is moving
forward with creating a system that will give people with disabilities equal
access to the polls," said Michael Kirkman, Executive Director of Disability
Rights Ohio. "As the new system is rolled out across the state, we encourage
anyone who has questions or problems to call us."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind 

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is
the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded
in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the
fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of
blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families
with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We
believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to
transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and
initiatives at www.nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10673&qid=219508
6> 

About Disability Rights Ohio: Disability Rights Ohio is the federally and
state designated Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance
Program for the state of Ohio. The mission of Disability Rights Ohio is to
advocate for the human, civil and legal rights of people with disabilities
in Ohio. Disability Rights Ohio provides legal advocacy and rights
protection to a wide range of people with disabilities. Find out more at
disabilityrightsohio.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10674&qid=219508
6> .

About Brown, Goldstein & Levy LLP: Brown, Goldstein & Levy, based in
Baltimore, Maryland, handles both civil and criminal litigation and has long
represented organizations and individuals with disabilities in high-profile,
high-impact disability rights cases. For more information, visit
www.browngold.com
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10675&qid=219508
6> . 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10676&qid=219508
6> 

Stacy Brannan-Smith

Communications Specialist

Disability Rights Ohio

800-282-9181, ext. 101

sbrannan-smith at disabilityrightsohio.org
<https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10677&qid=219508
6> 

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National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230
| (410) 659-9314 

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