Panel description: Those with lived experiences come together with those implementing Florida’s Accessible Vote-by-Mail (ABVM) program to discuss their perspectives on the successes and pitfalls of the current system, as well as what the future of accessible voting may hold.

Panelists: Aaron Wilson, Marilyn Baldwin, Doug Hall, Alex Mosca, Marsha Bukala, and Brian Finney

Panelist Bios

Aaron Wilson is a security engineer, software architect, and election technology expert. He has a passion for building innovative, accessible, and secure election technology and founded Enhanced Voting in 2013 with that vision. Enhanced Voting currently provides accessible vote-by-mail services in twelve states.   

Aaron recently served as the Senior Director of Election Security for the Center for Internet Security (CIS). At CIS, Aaron led election security best practice development, including the publication of A Guide for Ensuring Security in Election Technology Procurement, Security Best Practices for Non-Voting Election Technology, and Managing Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risks in Election Technology. He was the creator of the Rapid Architecture Based Election Technology Verification (RABET-V) Process and Pilot Program.   

Aaron began his career testing and conducting security evaluations of voting systems for the Florida Division of Elections. He served as the Vice President of Products and Services for Greenshades Software and the Director of Product for Clear Ballot Group, a federally certified voting system manufacturer. In 2010, he led the deployment of the first MOVE Act compliant electronic ballot delivery systems for overseas civilians and military voters in 10 states. Aaron has presented to many federal, state, and local organizations including the 2020 RSA Conference – a premier IT security organization – on securing non-voting election technology and is often quoted in publications on ways to improve election security.  

Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Florida State University and a Master of Science degree in Computer and Information Science from the University of North Florida.   

Alex Mosca currently serves as the Public Information Specialist with the Leon County Supervisor of Elections Office. Previously, he worked at the Florida Department of State, Division of Elections for nearly a decade in a variety of roles, including creating training materials on how poll workers should serve voters with disabilities. 

Doug Hall, age 74, is totally blind, due to a blasting accident at age 8.  He attended public school, obtained a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling, while obtaining adaptive skills and being somewhat involved as a disability advocate.  Doug moved to Florida for employment and further involvement in community and disability-related advocacy.  Prior to his retirement in 2013, he worked for the State of Florida for more than 30 years, as a rehabilitation counselor/case manager, instructor, program supervisor and project director, but his primary interests have been and continue to be in the areas of  transportation availability  and voter rights advocacy, as well as access to needed services.  He currently serves on two county transportation-related advisory committees, is an active member of the Florida Council of the Blind and its chapters, cofounded and past officer of the Daytona Halifax Area Lions Club, is a trustee of Friends of Library Access, Inc, which supports the state’s Braille and Talking Book Library, and is an advocate for voting rights and access,  currently participating in meetings of Access To Vote Florida. Prior to the death of his wife, Nancy Burgess-Hall in April, the couple was involved in several organizations and agencies, providing advice, while  promoting the abilities, needs and rights of people with disabilities.  Doug was one of many advocates, who  were successful in seeing that every precinct has at least one accessible machine for all voters.  In 2020, he was involved, as a plaintiff, litigating to force the state to certify accessible vote-by-mail  ballots and   in negotiating with county supervisors of election to provide them to print impaired residents of their counties.  It does appear that past and current advocacy may be achieving greater access, for all voters, to the electoral process, including availability of accessible voting equipment in every precinct and more counties offering accessible vote-by-mail to residents.      

Marsha Bukala is retired from Aon Corporation a global insurance broker where she worked  for 23 years.  She has been and continues to be an advocate and volunteer in her local community.  She has previously volunteered her time with the Ronald McDonald House, Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy program  (CAPS), Lake Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization, New Visions for Independence and Friends of Petraits. She is currently a member of the Greater Orlando Council of the Blind, President of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Sunshine Guide Dogs Teams of Florida, board member of the Daring Sisters and an  advocate for the blind visually impaired. 

Bryan Finney is the founder and CEO of Democracy Live. Democracy Live pioneered accessible absentee/vote-by-mail voting in 2008. Since then, Democracy Live accessible remote voting technologies have been deployed in over 4,000 elections, across 29 states (including Florida) to over 2,500 elections jurisdictions. On the federal level, the U.S. State Department and U.S. Department of Defense have selected and funded Democracy Live for remote voting. To date, Democracy Live has deployed electronic ballot return technologies in over 600 jurisdictions and has over 90% of the market for accessible ballot return in the U.S.

Marilyn Baldwin graduated from the Florida School for the Blind in May of 1977. Marilyn served on many Committees in high School including the School Newspaper, Senior Chorus, Scouting and Student Government. In April 1982, she graduated Cum Laude from Bethune Cookman College with a BS Degree in Elementary Education and Specific Learning Disabilities.

Marilyn taught children with Learning Disabilities from 1982 until 1985. Then she worked for the City of Orlando from 1987 until 2002, as an Administrative Receptionist. She joined the National Federation of the Blind in 1984 and attended her first National Convention in Arizona. Marilyn has faithfully served in the Central Florida Chapter for many years serving as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice President and Chapter President. “I love my work with other people who are Blind in our NFB Family” says Marilyn. Marilyn worked to improve our Florida White Cane Law with Florida Senator Toni Jennings. She also played a major role in helping to secure funding for the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund with the help of many members of the NFBF local Chapters.

In her local community Marilyn Chaired the Orange County Disability Advisory Board for many years beginning in 1996. She served as a member of the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged representing Urban Citizens from from 1994-2002. While on the Commission Marilyn was appointed to serve on The Easter Seals Project Action National Steering Committee. During her tenure on the Commission, Marilyn served on the ADA ,Standards, and Personnel Committees. In 2007, Marilyn was appointed to serve as a member of the Florida Bar Citizens Forum and served as Vice Chair from 2009-2010. Marilyn is also a member of the Friends of the Talking Book Library.

Currently Marilyn is President of the Central Florida Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. She Chairs the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the State Affiliate as well as Co Chairman for the Communities of Faith Committee. She is also on the Florida Deaf Blind Division Board of Directors for NFBF. This year Marilyn was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Orange County. Marilyn serves as Chair of the Quality Assurance Task Force and Disabled Representative on the Orange ,Osceola, and Seminole Counties Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board. Marilyn has served on the local TD Board for over twenty years. “I am blessed to have the opportunity to serve in our Affiliate and local community .” Marilyn says. She is also an active member in her church ,Zion Lutheran Church in Winter Garden, Florida. where she serves on the Board of Parish Involvement and Lutheran Women in Mission. Marilyn lives in Orange County, Florida. Marilyn is also a member of Access The Vote Florida. She enjoys finding opportunities to make life better for persons living with blindness and other disabilities. Marilyn has recently been appointed as Co Chairman of the League of Women Voters DEI Committee.

Panel Moderators

Juliet Brown is a Policy Intern at Disability Rights Florida. She is finishing up her Master’s in Social Work with an emphasis in Social Leadership at Florida State University. Her background is in community-based social work and homeless prevention. She has a bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Asbury University. 

Christella Jeanpierre is a student enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She is interested in learning how to utilize public policy and data analysis to advocate for implementing resources in underserved communities. Christella aspires to obtain a Master’s degree in Social Work Administration to further her understanding of the collaborative process of community development.