<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal">Learn About President Riccobono’s experience voting and his call for everyone to vote. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">August 2020 President's Letter<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Friend,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of the team working to go the rest of the way toward equality in the American democracy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">of the National Federation of the Blind to secure nonvisual access in the Help America Vote Act.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">2020.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is why the National Federation of the Blind is vigorously protecting voting accessibility across the nation. Many states have offered accessible vote<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">during this same time period last year—giving them plenty of time to implement an accessible system.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">and that starts with having equal access to the range of voting options.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are a diverse organization. The legislation we champion is bipartisan because blindness does not select for political affiliation. Regardless of your<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">in November. Please join me in voting and in protecting equal access to voting in every state for blind people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Warmly,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mark A. Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">August 2020 President's Letter<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>