For Immediate Release



Today, the American Council of the Blind, expressed surprise and
disappointment
when it was learned that the Ney-Hoyer bill, the latest among a series
of
legislative efforts aimed at reforming the election process, does not
take
into
account the needs of people with disabilities, including people who are
blind
and visually impaired.

Christopher Gray of San Francisco, CA, President of the American Council
of
the
Blind, said, "The ACB opposes any legislation which does not provide
national
accessability standards, that permit blind and visually impaired voters
to
cast
their ballots privately and independently."

"We hope that this bill can be ammended to include provisions that will
make it
possible for blind people to cast secret, verifiable ballots
independently in
the next and future elections," said Melanie Brunson of Vienna, VA,
ACB's
Director of Advocacy and governmental Relations.

Charlie Crawford, of Silver Spring, MD, who is the Council's Executive
Director, added, "Since last November's disputed election results,
members of
Congress have been jumping onto one bandwagon or another with the goal
of
reforming America's election system.  Let there be no doubt that the
disability
community, including the American Council of the Blind, is not about to
support
any one piece of legislation unless the needs of people who are blind
and
visually impaired are taken into account.  Voting is not merely our
constitutional right, it is the mechanism by which all of us participate
in
the
democracy that defines us as a nation and a people.  Americans who are
blind
and visually impaired have been waiting for far too long for the
accommodations
which will allow us to participate just as freely and just as
independently in
the electoral process as all other Americans.  We are unwilling to wait
any
longer.

The American Council of the Blind, founded in 1961, is the leading
organization
of people who are blind and visually impaired in the United States.
With more
than70 state and special interest affiliates, the Council is a presence
in
virtually every community of the U.S.A.


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