[NFBOH-Cleveland] Learn About President Riccobono's experience voting and his call for everyone to vote.

[ali benmerzouga]

Learn About President Riccobono's experience voting and his call for
everyone to vote. 

 

August 2020 President's Letter

 

Dear Friend,

 

The first time I voted in a presidential election was 1996. Although that
first vote should feel empowering and meaningful, as a young blind person I
found

it demoralizing. The second class treatment and lack of privacy in my vote
left me well aware that as blind people we did not have equal access. That
was

the same year I joined the National Federation of the Blind. I was surprised
to learn about the gains we had made since 1940 and I was inspired to be
part

of the team working to go the rest of the way toward equality in the
American democracy.

 

Fast forward to 2004 when I voted privately and independently for the first
time in a presidential election. That opportunity came because of the
efforts

of the National Federation of the Blind to secure nonvisual access in the
Help America Vote Act.

 

We want all blind Americans to have an equal opportunity to vote privately
and independently but the rapid shifting of voting procedures during the
pandemic

has caused many blind people to make a choice: risk exposure to the virus at
a public polling place where there is an accessible voting system or risk

giving up the privacy of your vote by getting someone to assist you at home
with your inaccessible paper ballot. This is not a choice we should face in

2020.

 

This is why the National Federation of the Blind is vigorously protecting
voting accessibility across the nation. Many states have offered accessible
vote

by mail systems for years and we have urged all states to be prepared to do
the same for the 2020 election. We began urging states to plan for
accessibility

during this same time period last year-giving them plenty of time to
implement an accessible system.

 

Our goal is to encourage all blind people, regardless of their political
views, to participate in the American democracy. We want all blind people to
vote

and that starts with having equal access to the range of voting options.

 

We are a diverse organization. The legislation we champion is bipartisan
because blindness does not select for political affiliation. Regardless of
your

personal politics, I urge everyone to vote in November. The National
Federation of the Blind will continue to work to preserve the right of
everyone to

vote privately and independently whether you participate by visiting a
polling place or you vote by mail. I know I will be exercising my right to
vote

in November. Please join me in voting and in protecting equal access to
voting in every state for blind people.

 

Warmly,

 

Mark A. Riccobono, President

National Federation of the Blind 

August 2020 President's Letter

 

 

 

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