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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings and felicitations:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am happy to report that for the very first time in the history of Colorado, voters with disabilities, including those of us who are blind, can now vote an electronic ballot independently and privately from our own homes or other location. All that is needed is a computer or smart phone, a printer, and access to the Internet. We can obtain our electronic ballots right now for the November 5 coordinated election.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado has been working closely with the Colorado Secretary of State's office to ensure that the electronic ballot is truly accessible and usable. While there are some refinements that we are hoping to see in time for the 2020 primary election on March 3, I can safely say that the online system that is now in place is both accessible and usable.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here is some information from the Secretary of State's office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The voter will first need to decide if they are eligible for this service. A voter who has a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act is eligible to vote an electronic ballot under Colorado law.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>If the voter is eligible and wants to vote an electronic ballot, they should visit <a href="https://myballot.sos.colorado.gov">https://myballot.sos.colorado.gov</a>. Once on the website, it will guide them through the process of voting their ballot online.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Once they have completed voting online, the website will prompt them to print both their ballot and an electronic ballot application form. The application form should be filled in with their information, so all the voter will need to do is sign the application.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The voter should place both the ballot and the printed application in an envelope, write “Ballot enclosed” on the envelope, and return the envelope to their county clerk either at a drop box, a voter service and polling center, or through the mail. It is really important that the voter includes the signed application with their ballot, because that is how their county clerk will identify them and count their ballot.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Voters can visit <a href="http://www.govotecolorado.com">www.govotecolorado.com</a> to update their voter registration information (which they will need to be updated to access the online system). They can also visit that website to find their nearest voter service and polling center and drop box.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have personally tested the electronic ballot system with a Windows computer running JAWS and NVDA and an iPhone running VoiceOver. In both cases, I was able to mark the ballot and print both the ballot and the ballot application.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As with all new software implementations, there are bound to be some issues that come up as the system gains exposure. But I am optimistic that the problems will not be too difficult to resolve.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Curtis Chong<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>