I went to vote at my local Polo the last couple elections. Both times I went,
the audible machine was down. So, not only are they not allowing access from
home, you can’t even get it when you go there.
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 28, 2020, at 5:18 PM, Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Amen, Fred, I'd love to be a co-plaintiff on this one!
Steve
Absentee ballots aren't an option for blind Michigan voters who want to vote
on their own. And during the coronavirus pandemic - when state officials are
encouraging people to stay home and vote absentee instead of congregating at
the polls - that's dangerous, said Jason Turkish, managing partner at Nyman
Turkish PC.
The firm is suing Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Director of Elections
Jonathan Brater for failing to provide alternatives for blind people to vote
absentee. The lawsuit requests a judge to require Michigan to implement an
accessible absentee voting alternative by the May 5 election. The federal
lawsuit was filed over the weekend, on behalf of blind Michiganders Michael
Powell and Fred Wurtzel, the current and former president of the Michigan
Affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. "People will get COVID
because they cannot vote from home," Turkish said, who's a blind Michigan
voter himself. Secretary of State officials declined to answer MLive
questions about the lawsuit or questions about why Michigan doesn't allow for
accessible absentee voting. Powell v Benson Stamped Com... by Taylor
DesOrmeau on Scribd Many blind people must take public transportation to get
to the polls, further putting them at risk for getting coronavirus, Turkish
said. Other states have implemented methods to allow blind people to vote
absentee from home, using screen-reading software. The U.S. Court of Appeals
required Ohio to do so, after a 2018 lawsuit . Because the software is
already in place in other states and is "open source," it wouldn't cost
Michigan much, if anything, to make this accommodation, Turkish said. "We are
not asking for a penny of damages in this lawsuit," Powell said in a news
release. "All we are asking for is the opportunity to vote in a manner that
is safe, private, and accessible, the same way Michiganders without
disabilities are able to. Michigan has methods in place to help blind voters
vote in person. There are some voting machines with accessibility built in or
blind voters can request assistance from a poll worker, Turkish said. After
numerous conversations with state officials about the issue, Turkish said
advocates had to file a lawsuit if they wanted to see action. "Our democracy
is better off, the more people who participate. I thought that's what Jocelyn
Benson stood for," Turkish said, noting he voted for her. "It's really
shameful. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and
not touching your face , officials recommend practicing social distancing,
assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be
staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.
Carry hand sanitizer with you , and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting
spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles,
faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores. Read more
Michigan coronavirus coverage here Monday, April 27: Latest developments on
coronavirus in Michigan Michigan extends personal protection orders during
coronavirus crisis Daily life grinds to a halt with empty streets, a rising
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blind people must take public transportation to get to the polls, further
putting them at risk for getting coronavirus, Turkish said."}
,{"_id":"OLHPH4ZYYFHKLB47QU6JMZF74M","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674457},"content":"Other
states have implemented methods to allow blind people to vote absentee from
home, using screen-reading software. The U.S. Court of Appeals required Ohio
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,{"_id":"VIJ3DH3WLRFKBLPPCP3TR7XYIA","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674458},"content":"Because
the software is already in place in other states and is "open source," it
wouldn't cost Michigan much, if anything, to make this accommodation, Turkish
said."}
,{"_id":"R7GWFXQ2UJDU5F3CMWGRFOJS6E","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674459},"content":"We
are not asking for a penny of damages in this lawsuit," Powell said in a
news release. "All we are asking for is the opportunity to vote in a manner
that is safe, private, and accessible, the same way Michiganders without
disabilities are able to."}
,{"_id":"MD45RXF2Y5AHVPTABELOQW2L4A","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674460},"content":"Michigan
has methods in place to help blind voters vote in person. There are some
voting machines with accessibility built in or blind voters can request
assistance from a poll worker, Turkish said."}
,{"_id":"SE4PYTAHGJFODM7Y4F45ZVX6YA","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674461},"content":"After
numerous conversations with state officials about the issue, Turkish said
advocates had to file a lawsuit if they wanted to see action.
"},{"_id":"R32ZFVZJ7VGPNPLKQTSZCBTFIA","type":"text","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"inline_comments":[],"_id":1588002674462},"content":"Our
democracy is better off, the more people who participate. I thought that's
what Jocelyn Benson stood for," Turkish said, noting he voted for her. "It's
really shameful."
