<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Congratulations to everyone who has already voted here in Colorado. For those of you who took advantage of Colorado's accessible online ballot delivery and return system, I hope this system worked well for you. It certainly worked for me.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I have received a total of three calls from individuals who experienced problems with Colorado's online voting system. I suspect that there are some things that could be done in the future to simplify this system. In this regard, I am seeking input from folks who, like me, believe that some tweaking needs to be done to make online voting less complex. If you have thoughts about this, I would be happy to talk or email with you. My email is chong.curtis@gmail.com; my mobile number is 515-306-1654.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">If, in future, we need another bill to make the system better, I know how we can make it happen.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Thanks to everyone who has voted or who plans to vote in this general election.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Kind wishes,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Curtis Chong</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Nov 2, 2024, at 9:25 AM, Tim Keenan via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I voted, did you? NFBCO did a lot of work with our friend Jessie Danielson, among others, to make this happen, so I really hope we all take advantage of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Besides, now I have an excuse to treat myself to breakfast. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😊</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Tim<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Curtis Chong via Colorado-Talk<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, October 2, 2024 9:15 AM<br><b>To:</b> colorado-talk@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Curtis Chong <chong.curtis@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Colorado-Talk] Using Colorado's Electronic Ballot Delivery and Return System in the 2024 General Election<br><b>Importance:</b> High<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Using Colorado’s<br>Accessible Ballot Delivery and Return System<br>In the 2024 General Election<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">By Curtis Chong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Author's Note: This document is intended primarily for screen reader users who are using a Windows computer to mark and/or return the ballot electronically. While voters using smartphones running a screen reader are not expressly prohibited from using Colorado's accessible electronic ballot delivery and return system, please bear in mind that the procedures used to download the ballot and accessible ballot application files and the steps to upload these documents differ to some degree from what you would do if you were using a smartphone running a screen reader such as VoiceOver (iOS) or Talkback (Android).<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Starting October 11, 2024, ballots for the November 5 General election will be mailed out to registered voters in Colorado. For people with disabilities, those who are blind, and individuals who are unable to mark the printed mail ballot without assistance, this means that on that date, Colorado’s accessible electronic ballot delivery, marking, and return system will become available. Registered Colorado voters with disabilities can receive and mark their ballots at home, at work, or anywhere else using the accessible technology with which they are most familiar. Registered Colorado voters who are blind or have a print disability can also return their ballots electronically.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Critical First Step<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If you plan to use the electronic ballot return option when voting, there is a critical first step which you must complete. You need to take a picture of your Colorado State ID and place it somewhere on your computer or smartphone where you can easily locate it while returning your ballot electronically. You do not need to do this if you are able to draw your signature on the computer or smartphone screen or prefer to use the system simply to mark your ballot and are able to print the ballot and the ballot application.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Accessible Voting Procedure<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">1. Point your browser to </span><a href="https://myballot.coloradosos.gov"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">https://myballot.coloradosos.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">. You will be taken to the accessible ballot home page. Find the Vote My Ballot heading and activate the CONTINUE button which is immediately adjacent to it; this will take you to the Voter Lookup page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">2. On this Voter Lookup page, you will need to provide your first and last name, your date of birth, and the county where you are registered to vote. Once this information has been entered, activate the CONTINUE button. This will take you to the Ballot Type page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">3. On the Ballot Type page, you will find three radio buttons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I am requesting an emergency ballot<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I am a voter with a disability and am requesting an accessible ballot<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">These do not apply<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Activate the second radio button (I am a voter with a disability) and then activate the CONTINUE button to be taken to the "Please confirm you are eligible to access this system" page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">4. The Please confirm you are eligible to access this system page contains a checkbox which you should activate to affirm that you are a voter with a disability as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Check this box and then activate the CONTINUE button.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">5. This next page asks a question which determines if you are a voter who is blind, has a print disability, or is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold, mark, or manipulate a ballot or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that would be normally acceptable for reading or marking a ballot. If you are blind or print-disabled and want to return your ballot electronically, activate the Yes radio button. If you want to return your ballot in the mail and you have access to a printer, you should respond "No" to this question. After activating the appropriate Radio Button, activate the CONTINUE button.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">6. On this last voter verification page, you are asked to enter either your driver’s license or Colorado State ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. You do not need to enter both numbers. If you are entering your state ID number, you should not enter any of the hyphens which appear on your Colorado state ID card. After entering your identification information, activate the CONTINUE button. Given that this is a general election, you will be taken directly to the page which displays your ballot.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">7. All of the contests and questions on the ballot are displayed on a single page. Each candidate or position is indicated by a checkbox. Use the space key to check the boxes corresponding to the candidates or positions for which you want to vote.<br>Once you have completed marking the ballot, activate the CONTINUE button to go to the Selection Review page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">8. On the Selection Review page, you have the opportunity to check your ballot for one last time before moving on to the next phase. There is a Change button for each contest which, when activated, takes you back to the ballot page. Once you are satisfied that the ballot is as you want it, activate the CONTINUE button at the bottom of the page. You will be taken to the Save or Print Your Ballot page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">9. On the Save or Print Your Ballot page, you should activate the SAVE OR PRINT BALLOT button. If you are activating this button from a Windows computer and if you want to save your ballot instead of printing it, you should ensure that the printer selected is the one which is labeled Save as PDF.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:1.0in"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(For users of platforms other than Windows, a different procedure is used to save the ballot into a PDF file.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">10. After your ballot is saved or printed, you will be taken back to the Save or Print Your Ballot page. Activate the CONTINUE button. You will be taken to a page which asks "Would you like to sign on your screen?"<br>This page informs you that, "You have the option to sign your voter affidavit on your device or to skip signing on your device and return your ballot with an acceptable form of identification or handwritten signature." Screen reader users should navigate to the heading which says, "I would like to return an acceptable form of identification or sign with a pen" and activate the CONTINUE button immediately adjacent to this heading; this will navigate you to the "Download Additional Ballot Materials" page.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">11. On the "Download Additional Ballot Materials" page, activate the DOWNLOAD ADDITIONAL MATERIALS button. Windows users will be prompted with a dialog to save a PDF document. By default, this file will be placed in your Downloads folder. You will be able to give it whatever name works for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">12. After the file has been printed or downloaded, activate the CONTINUE button to go to the next step.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">13. If you are going to print your ballot and ballot documents instead of downloading them, you are finished with the online system; you will need to sign the ballot application document, however, before putting both the ballot and the application into an envelope. If you downloaded these files to submit them electronically, you should pay attention to the following instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Thank you for voting, but you're not done!"<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">"Please follow the instructions provided in the previous pages and in your additional ballot materials to return your ballot and materials to your local elections office. If you are returning your ballot and materials electronically, please return them at Colorado's secure ballot return website by clicking the 'return my ballot' link below."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">For your information, the link to the "return my ballot" page is </span><a href="https://ballotreturn.coloradosos.gov/form/accessible"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">https://ballotreturn.coloradosos.gov/form/accessible</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Uploading Your Ballot and Ballot Application<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After you have saved your ballot, your ballot application document, and a picture of your Colorado State ID, you should direct your browser to the website </span><a href="https://ballotreturn.coloradosos.gov/form/accessible"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">https://ballotreturn.coloradosos.gov/form/accessible</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">. You will be taken to the State of Colorado Secure Ballot Return page. You do not have to perform this part of the voting process immediately after you have finished marking your ballot. You already have your documents downloaded to your system. You can treat this part of the process as something that you can take up on another day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">On the State of Colorado Secure Ballot Return page, screen reader users are placed on an edit field where you are asked to enter your first name. Before you enter your identification information, you need to upload your saved files first. Move your focus to the top of the page (CTRL+HOME in Windows) and read the information you find there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">There are three "browse to attach files" links on the State of Colorado Secure Ballot Return page. The first browse link should be used to upload the actual ballot. The second browse link should be used to upload the accessible ballot application. The third browse link should be used to upload the picture of your Colorado State ID (or other authorized form of identification). These links cannot be reached using the TAB key. Windows screen reader users should arrow down through the page or ask their screen reader to search for the word "browse."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">As each file is successfully uploaded, its name will appear just below the browse link you activated to upload the file. Thus, a careful review of the page will assure you that all three of the files needed to return your ballot have been successfully uploaded.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">After all three files have been uploaded, fill in your name, phone number, and email address, and only then, activate the Submit button. Failing to fill in these fields properly makes it impossible for your county to notify you about any problems or issues with your ballot and accompanying files.<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></h3><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">If all of this sounds exceedingly complicated or, at the very least, tedious, I am afraid that there are definitely a lot of steps to perform here. Such is the way with technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Voters with disabilities who use this system are urged to contact their respective county clerks. If history is any guide, you will probably be referred to the office of Colorado’s Secretary of State. If you like, feel free to call me at 515-306-1654 or drop me an email at </span><a href="mailto:chong.curtis@gmail.com"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">chong.curtis@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">. I will try to be of help if I can.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Colorado-Talk mailing list</span><br><span>Colorado-Talk@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Colorado-Talk:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org/chong.curtis%40gmail.com</span><br><span>List archives can be found at <http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/colorado-talk_nfbnet.org></span><br></div></body></html>