"Providing electronic ballots for the disabled community ensures we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities take many obstacles into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, will their secrecy be jeopardized by someone marking their ballot on their behalf, did they bring accessibility equipment (i.e. Sip and Puff) for the ADA voting equipment, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. From an Election Administrator standpoint, it ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in world of changing technology and regulations. Montana Election Administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians; disabled voters could easily be woven into this process."
Missoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters – before House State Administration tomorrow morning. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, will their secrecy be jeopardized by someone marking their ballot on their behalf, did they bring accessibility equipment (i.e., Sip and Puff equipment) for the ADA voting equipment, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana Election Administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process. Please support HB 400.
Respectfully, Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Missoula County strongly supports HB 400 - Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, and respectfully requests you reconsider your position on 3rd reading today. Missoula County has 38 Automark machines that assist voters with disabilities in marking their ballots independently. These machines cost $5,000 each, are 10 years old and will need to be replaced soon. They have been difficult and expensive to maintain. HB 400 provides relief to local governments charged with ensuring fair, accessible, cost effective elections and more importantly to voters with disabilities. This bill allows those voters to use their own technology with their disability-specific accommodation to mark their ballot independently. Election administrators ensure the PDF is "fillable" and requires the ballot be printed and returned along with the voter's affidavit. They are not given the option of returning their ballot or their affidavit electronically. This bill maximizes several significant opportunities: voter independence and dignity, election integrity, and local government efficiency. Please reconsider your position on HB 400.
Respectfully,
Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Missoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, on the House floor this afternoon. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, ballot secrecy, bringing accessibility equipment (i.e., sip and puff equipment) for the ADA voting machine, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Please support HB 400.
Sent to Senator Malek on Senate State Administration:
Missoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, before State Administration this afternoon. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, ballot secrecy, bringing accessibility equipment (i.e., sip and puff equipment) for the ADA voting machine, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Please support HB 400. Respectfully, Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Sent the following to MC Senators on the floor Friday 3/27:
Senator , Missoula County strongly supports HB 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, on the Senate floor tomorrow morning, in its original form (without requiring poll watchers during transcription). The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Also, Missoula County currently uses 38 ADA Automark machines. These machines cost $5,000 each and are difficult and expensive to maintain. HB 400 maximizes several significant opportunities: voter independence and dignity, election integrity, and local government efficiency. Please support HB 400. Respectfully, Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Rebecca Connors on Feb. 9, 2015:
ReplyDelete"Providing electronic ballots for the disabled community ensures we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities take many obstacles into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, will their secrecy be jeopardized by someone marking their ballot on their behalf, did they bring accessibility equipment (i.e. Sip and Puff) for the ADA voting equipment, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. From an Election Administrator standpoint, it ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in world of changing technology and regulations. Montana Election Administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians; disabled voters could easily be woven into this process."
Sent on 2/10 to Rep. Bennett:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters – before House State Administration tomorrow morning. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, will their secrecy be jeopardized by someone marking their ballot on their behalf, did they bring accessibility equipment (i.e., Sip and Puff equipment) for the ADA voting equipment, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana Election Administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process. Please support HB 400.
Respectfully,
Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Sent to Representative Tschida,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County strongly supports HB 400 - Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, and respectfully requests you reconsider your position on 3rd reading today. Missoula County has 38 Automark machines that assist voters with disabilities in marking their ballots independently. These machines cost $5,000 each, are 10 years old and will need to be replaced soon. They have been difficult and expensive to maintain. HB 400 provides relief to local governments charged with ensuring fair, accessible, cost effective elections and more importantly to voters with disabilities. This bill allows those voters to use their own technology with their disability-specific accommodation to mark their ballot independently. Election administrators ensure the PDF is "fillable" and requires the ballot be printed and returned along with the voter's affidavit. They are not given the option of returning their ballot or their affidavit electronically. This bill maximizes several significant opportunities: voter independence and dignity, election integrity, and local government efficiency. Please reconsider your position on HB 400.
Respectfully,
Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Sent to House Reps on the floor yesterday:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, on the House floor this afternoon. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, ballot secrecy, bringing accessibility equipment (i.e., sip and puff equipment) for the ADA voting machine, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Please support HB 400.
Sent to Senator Malek on Senate State Administration:
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports House Bill 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, before State Administration this afternoon. Providing electronic ballots for the community of people with disabilities helps to ensure we have an inclusive democracy. The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting: coordinating transportation, polling place accessibility, ballot secrecy, bringing accessibility equipment (i.e., sip and puff equipment) for the ADA voting machine, and more that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Please support HB 400.
Respectfully,
Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners
Sent the following to MC Senators on the floor Friday 3/27:
ReplyDeleteSenator ,
Missoula County strongly supports HB 400 – Allow electronic ballot for disabled voters, on the Senate floor tomorrow morning, in its original form (without requiring poll watchers during transcription). The Help America Vote Act mandated that those with disabilities have the right to vote as secretly and independently as non-disabled voters. Those with disabilities have many obstacles to take into account when voting that non-disabled voters take for granted. HB 400 ensures we have a consistent option for ADA voters in a world of changing technology and regulations. Montana election administrators have been able to conduct and improve the electronic ballot system for military (domestic & overseas) and oversea civilians. Given these additions, voters with disabilities could easily be woven into this process and afforded greater independence. Also, Missoula County currently uses 38 ADA Automark machines. These machines cost $5,000 each and are difficult and expensive to maintain. HB 400 maximizes several significant opportunities: voter independence and dignity, election integrity, and local government efficiency. Please support HB 400.
Respectfully,
Vickie Zeier on behalf of the Missoula County Commissioners