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

[randi62]

That is indeed wonderful news. I know that the Coalition fought long and hard for this to happen. Congratulations to all of you for making such strides in accessibility for the Blind and Visually Impaired voters in the state of New Hampshire!May your Zoom be full!Randi Wilson ✨️ Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Dana Trahan via NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> Date: 8/22/24  3:35 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: 'NFB of New Hampshire Lakes Region Chapter List' <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> Cc: danatrahan at comcast.net Subject: [NHLakesChapter] Come and invite others to join our virtual/Zoom celebration 9/4/2024 at 3:30 PM 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 andOur Partner Agencies and organizations who promote accessible voting in NHWhat:    A roundtable discussion about accessible voting with time for Q & AWhen:   Wednesday, September 4 at 3:30 PMWhere: Virtually/Zoom RSVP to DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com for detailsWhy:     To Celebrate and learn more about accessible voting in all elections  Agenda:3:15 PM Networking and tech-check3:30 PM Welcome and introductions3:40 PM Roundtable discussion about accessible voting4:10 PM Q & A4:30 PM Thank you and adjourn! If you would like the Zoom details, please RSVP to DanaTrahan3 at gmail.com  Feel free to spread the word and invite others! Dana TrahanProud 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 NHNew 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.  
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/attachments/20240822/5281facb/attachment.htm>