NYSACRA

Background  CALL NOW!!!  or (CLIC K HERE to SEND AND EMAIL NOW!)
 
State and county election officials have worked an amendment through the NYS Congressional delegation to the Holt bill, HR 811, which contains language that will suspend the disability provisions of HAVA in New York State until 2010!!!  If this goes through, it will cease any progress on disability voting access in New York for three years!
 
Speaker Pelosi is considering the amendment, but is looking for feedback from the disability community (especially from New York).  WE MUST RESPOND!
 
Jim Dickson of the AAPD attended the bill hearing last night and delivered a letter from NYSILC to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.  That action helped to delay a decision for another day or two.  Thanks Jim!  But we need to take action immediately!!!
 
Action!  FIRST CALL & THEN EMAIL THEM
 
1)  CALL House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Office at (202) 225-0100.  If her Speaker line is too busy, her alternative DC Congress office number is (202) 225- 4965.
 
Tell them your name and where you are from (location).
 
Deliver the following message:

"Please ask Speaker Pelosi NOT to amend the Holt bill HR 811 with language that would let New York State suspend the disability provisions of the Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) until 2010."
 
If they let you speak longer, you can add:
"New Yorkers with disabilities have been denied access to vote privately and independently for over 200 years!  Do not prolong this right any further." 
 
 
2)  CALL your local member of Congress, and given them the same message.
 
·       &nb sp; Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224- 3121, and ask for their DC Number.


If they want to discuss the issue further, or want to know what we want, you can add:

The State Board of Elections (SBOE) and county election commissioners have had more than enough time to comply with HAVA, which should have been addressed on Primary Day 2006.

For the Federal election in 2008, New Yorkers with disabilities want the state to step up their HAVA compliance and meet the standard of one accessible voting machine per polling place. This would also mean that all polling places would have to be accessible per ADA guidelines.

Or send an email now.
 
3)  If you find out any information during your conversations, contact Forest Cotten at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 518-449-7551.