[IL-Talk] Urgent Action Needed: Accessible Ballot Return

[chicago.president at nfbofillinois.org]

Good Morning Everyone,

 

During our state convention, President Green mentioned that we will be
asking you to write letters to your neighborhood and daily newspapers about
the right of the blind to vote by mail privately and independently. As we
approach another general election, it is important to note that we, the
blind community, still do not have the right to return our ballots
independently.

 

We are asking all of you to participate in the "Letters to the Editor"
campaign in the two weeks leading up to the election November 5). Your voice
matters, and sharing your experiences can make a significant impact.

 

Thank you in advance for your support. A template is provided below, but
feel free to add a sentence about how this issue personally affects your
ability to have all available voting options.

 

To the Editor:

 

As early voting is underway for the 2024 Election, and as voters request
their Vote by Mail ballots, once again people who are blind or have other
disabilities which prevent them from accessing and engaging with regular
ballots continue to be denied full access to Voting by mail in Illinois.
Despite no evidence of security issues with accessible voting by mail in the
13 states which offer it to these individuals, Illinois legislators despite
repeated promises to do so continue to find excuse after excuse not to make
it law in Illinois.

 

The state of Illinois is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by
not making vote by mail fully accessible.  Recently, the United States
Department of Justice finalized rules requiring state and local Governments
to make websites and mobile applications fully accessible to individuals
with disabilities, this includes elections. Despite this, while Illinois
voters with disabilities can receive, mark and review their ballots
independently, they must have access to a printer and may need help from
another person to return their ballots, denying them their right to a
secret, independent and private ballot.  I urge Illinois legislators to come
into compliance with Federal law and make voting by mail fully accessible in
time for the 2026 election cycle as has been promised.  The State Board of
Elections has indicated it can be done fairly easily.