[Ohio-Talk] My voting experience

[ali benmerzouga]

Thanks for the historical point Eric!!! Greatly appreciated!
Take care and have a nice day.
Ali


-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Eric Duffy via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 1:46 PM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Eric Duffy <peduffy63 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Ohio-Talk] My voting experience

Jim,

I am glad to hear that you had such a good experience. 
It is good that you reached out to Brett in the office of the SOS, but we would all do well to reach out to our county Board of Elections. They are the ones with boots on the ground when we  vote.

As a historical point for those who may not know, It was the NFB that made sure accessible voting became a part of HAVA. 

It was the NFB of Ohio who worked with the Secretary of State’s office and the County Boards In Ohio to implement the new law. I was the only member of the committee with a disability.

Eric
> On Oct 27, 2020, at 1:15 PM, Jim Weiss via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Members,
> This morning I headed down to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and cast my vote, I wanted to share my experience.
> I got downtown around 7:45 AM and there was already a short line at the ADA entrance.  According to my driver there were already at least 100 people lining Euclid Avenue, so I was happy to learn that there were only about a dozen people in front of me behind the building.  There was a B.O.E. employee outside making sure people knew exactly where to go and let us know that the doors would open in 15 minutes.  They allowed groups of 4 people to enter starting at 8:00 and by 8:15 it was my turn.  A poll worker took my ID and quickly found me in the poll book and verified my information.  He asked me if I needed any assistance using the auto mark system and I said that I wanted to make sure my ballot was inserted properly.  He assisted me and made sure I was ready to vote.  Upon completion of voting he stopped back and directed me to the ballot scanning station.  I scan my ballot.
> I was treated with respect and dignity, but most importantly I voted independently.
> I took the time to send a email to Brett Harbage, ADA Coordinator for the Ohio Secretary of Sate, and I received a reply back from the Deputy Secretary of State thanking me for the positive feedback.
> I truly hope that all blind Ohioans have the same positive experience that I had.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Jim Weiss
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Member of the Board of 
> Directors for the Ohio Affiliate President of the Cuyahoga County 
> Chapter
> 
> 
> jimweiss72 at icloud.com
> 
> 
> 
> “The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the 
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create 
> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life 
> you want; blindness is not what holds you back.” | National Federation 
> of the Blind
> 
> 
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