[NHLakesChapter] Come and invite others to join our virtual/Zoom celebration 9/4/2024 at 3:30 PM

[danatrahan at comcast.net]

Celebrate with us!

 

The New Hampshire Coalition of Blind and Vision Impaired Voters would like
to announce the recent passing of HB 1264 into law.

 

The One4All Accessible Voting System (AVS) has currently been available at
all polling places for all to use at all State and Federal elections in NH.
It is one system for all to use, and it allows independence for voters with
vision or print disabilities to vote privately and independently. Now NH
residents across the state will also have the option to vote in all
municipal/local elections with an accessible voting system (AVS).

 

Please come to help us celebrate the great news, and help us to share the
word with all of NH!

 

Who:     NH voters with plans to vote on September 10 and again November 5,
2024 and

Our Partner Agencies and organizations who promote accessible voting in NH

What:    A roundtable discussion about accessible voting with time for Q & A

When:   Wednesday, September 4 at 3:30 PM

Where: Virtually/Zoom RSVP to DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com
<mailto:DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com>  for details

Why:     To Celebrate and learn more about accessible voting in all
elections

 

 

Agenda:

3:15 PM Networking and tech-check

3:30 PM Welcome and introductions

3:40 PM Roundtable discussion about accessible voting

4:10 PM Q & A

4:30 PM Thank you and adjourn!

 

If you would like the Zoom details, please RSVP to DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com
<mailto:DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com>  

 

Feel free to spread the word and invite others!

 

Dana Trahan

Proud Member of CBVIV

 

The New Hampshire Coalition of Blind and Vision Impaired Voters (CBVIV)

Supporting organizations include:

Department of Education, Services for Blind and Vision Impaired (SBVI)

Disabilities Rights Center of NH (DRC)

Future in Sight (formerly known as the NH Association for the Blind)

Granite State Independent Living (GSIL)

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)  of NH

New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities (nhcdd)

Representative Mark Paige (Exeter)

 

 

It reads in the NH State Constitution that "All elections are to be free,
and every inhabitant of the state of 18 years and upwards shall have equal
right to vote in any election." New Hampshire citizens have the right to
vote independently, privately, and with a secret ballot. With a vision or
print disability, reading a ballot and filling in ovals independently is a
challenge. Voting with these disabilities may require the assistance of
someone to read the ballot and fill in the ovals for someone else. That
method takes away confidentiality and independence. The Help Americans Vote
Act (HAVA) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
establish specific protections for voters with disabilities. 

 

In NH, there is an accessible voting system called the one4all, and it
includes a tablet, keyboard, headphones, and printer. It is not connected to
the internet, and it securely fills out selections on a pre-printed paper
ballot indicating a voter's choices. All registered voters of all abilities
can use the system. A blind or vision impaired person can use the system
independently. Sighted assistance is not necessary throughout the voting
process, but assistance is available at the polls if needed. The one4all AVS
has been available for Federal and State elections, but Municipal and School
elections across the state have not historically utilized an AVS. Exeter is
the first town in the State of NH to have an AVS for municipal and school
elections. Concord is the one city in the State to have an AVS for  their
city elections. Representative Mark Paige (Exeter) sponsored and introduced
HB 1264 in January 2024. This bill mandates that cities and towns provide an
AVS for local and school elections.

 

The NH Coalition of Blind and Vision Impaired Voters includes consumers and
representatives from multiple organizations. The Coalition hopes to advocate
for, spread awareness and to be a helpful voice about accessible voting.
Members of the Coalition worked with Representative Paige as HB 1264 was
passed by the House and Senate. It was signed into law in July 2024. This
legislation will draw attention to the legal rights of all in the State of
NH to exercise their right to vote on their own. 

 

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