>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 > >==^================================================================ >EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1dhdS.b1Gk1R >Or send an email To: [log in to unmask] >This email was sent to: [log in to unmask] > >T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! >http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register >==^================================================================ > >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. >=========================