>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Barbara Jackson LeMoine <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Legislative Alert from Words from Washington

>
>Words from Washington
>Legislative Alert
>July 27, 2001
>
>Bill on Accessible Voting Moving Forward
>
>On Thursday, August 2, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 
>will be considering legislation intended to dramatically overhaul the 
>nation’s election system. The Committee is scheduled to take up S. 565, the 
>"Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001," introduced by Senator 
>Christopher Dodd (D-CT).
>
>In the aftermath of last year’s Presidential election, a variety of 
>proposals have been put forward in both houses of Congress to address 
>alleged breakdowns in the electoral process. These proposals also address, 
>in varying degrees, the accessibility of polling places and equipment to 
>people with disabilities. Progress toward the passage of election reform 
>legislation has been hampered by a variety of factors, not the least of 
>which has been partisan wrangling and party infighting.
>
>Advocates are encouraged to contact members of the Senate Rules and 
>Administration Committee (see committee roster with telephone numbers which 
>follows), and urge members to agree to legislation ensuring that voters who 
>are blind or visually impaired, and all voters with disabilities, are able 
>to exercise their right to reliably cast votes privately and independently. 
>To achieve this objective, the legislation must:
>    •    require that by a specific date each polling place shall be 
>equipped with at least one voting system that is fully accessible to voters 
>who are blind or visually impaired and that all polling places shall be 
>physically accessible to voters with disabilities;
>
>    •    establish national mandatory standards for both polling places and 
>equipment ensuring their accessibility to voters with disabilities;
>
>    •    authorize Federal appropriations to assist State and local 
>jurisdictions in meeting the obligation of full accessibility and, if such 
>funds are made available, make sure that full compliance with well-defined 
>standards for polling place and equipment accessibility is required to 
>received these funds.
>
>    •    Make sure that access standards are set by the agency with 
>expertise--the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board 
>(the Access Board).
>Senate Rules and Administration Committee
>
>Congress needs to hear that voting accessibility is essential and  must be 
>considered on a bipartisan basis. In addition, be sure to clearly indicate 
>that you are calling in reference to election administration reform and not 
>campaign finance reform.
>
>Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
>202-224-2823
>
>Robert Byrd, (D-WV)
>202-224-3954
>
>Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
>202-224-3934
>
>Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
>202-224-3841
>
>Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
>202-224-3224
>
>Charles Schumer (D-NY)
>202-224-6542
>
>John Breaux (D-LA)
>202-224-4623
>
>Thomas Daschle (D-SD)
>202-224-2321
>
>Mark Dayton (D-MN)
>202-224-3244
>
>Richard Durbin (D-IL)
>202-224-2152
>
>Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
>202-224-2541
>
>John Warner (R-VA)
>202-224-2023
>
>Jesse Helms (R-NC)
>202-224-6342
>
>Ted Stevens (R-AK)
>202-224-3004
>
>Thad Cochran (R-MS)
>202-224-5054
>
>Rick Santorum (R-PA)
>202-224-6324
>
>Don Nickles (R-OK)
>202-224-5754
>
>Trent Lott (R-MS)
>202-224-6253
>
>Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
>202-224-5922
>
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>Attachment Converted: "c:\mspg30\eudora\attach\Legislat.htm"
>Words from Washington
>Legislative Alert
>July 27, 2001
>
>Bill on Accessible Voting Moving Forward
>
>On Thursday, August 2, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration will
>be considering legislation intended to dramatically overhaul the nation's
>election system. The Committee is scheduled to take up S. 565, the "Equal
>Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001," introduced by Senator Christopher
>Dodd (D-CT).
>
>In the aftermath of last year's Presidential election, a variety of
>proposals have been put forward in both houses of Congress to address
>alleged breakdowns in the electoral process. These proposals also address,
>in varying degrees, the accessibility of polling places and equipment to
>people with disabilities. Progress toward the passage of election reform
>legislation has been hampered by a variety of factors, not the least of
>which has been partisan wrangling and party infighting. 
>
>Advocates are encouraged to contact members of the Senate Rules and
>Administration Committee (see committee roster with telephone numbers which
>follows), and urge members to agree to legislation ensuring that voters who
>are blind or visually impaired, and all voters with disabilities, are able
>to exercise their right to reliably cast votes privately and independently.
>To achieve this objective, the legislation must:
>
>   *  require that by a specific date each polling place shall be equipped
>      with at least one voting system that is fully accessible to voters
>      who are blind or visually impaired and that all polling places shall
>      be physically accessible to voters with disabilities;
>
>   *  establish national mandatory standards for both polling places and
>      equipment ensuring their accessibility to voters with disabilities;
>
>   *  authorize Federal appropriations to assist State and local
>      jurisdictions in meeting the obligation of full accessibility
>      and, if such funds are made available, make sure that full compliance
>      with well-defined standards for polling place and equipment
>      accessibility is required to received these funds.
>
>   *  Make sure that access standards are set by the agency with
>      expertise--the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance
>      Board (the Access Board).
>
>Senate Rules and Administration Committee
>
>Congress needs to hear that voting accessibility is essential and  must be
>considered on a bipartisan basis. In addition, be sure to clearly indicate
>that you are calling in reference to election administration reform and *not*
>campaign finance reform. 
>
>Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
>202-224-2823
>
>Robert Byrd, (D-WV)
>202-224-3954
>
>Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
>202-224-3934
>
>Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
>202-224-3841
>
>Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
>202-224-3224
>
>Charles Schumer (D-NY)
>202-224-6542
>
>John Breaux (D-LA)
>202-224-4623
>
>Thomas Daschle (D-SD)
>202-224-2321
>
>Mark Dayton (D-MN)
>202-224-3244
>
>Richard Durbin (D-IL)
>202-224-2152
>
>Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
>202-224-2541
>
>John Warner (R-VA)
>202-224-2023
>
>Jesse Helms (R-NC)
>202-224-6342
>
>Ted Stevens (R-AK)
>202-224-3004
>
>Thad Cochran (R-MS)
>202-224-5054
>
>Rick Santorum (R-PA)
>202-224-6324
>
>Don Nickles (R-OK)
>202-224-5754
>
>Trent Lott (R-MS)
>202-224-6253
>
>Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
>202-224-5922
>
>
>=========================
>[log in to unmask]
>Barbara Jackson LeMoine, Legislative Assistant
>Governmental Relations Group
>American Foundation for the Blind
>Washington, D.C.
>=========================