[NFBCS] Using Adobe Acrobat with JAWS to Fill in an Accessible PDF Form

Mon Dec 29 02:34:17 UTC 2025

Probably preaching to the choir here, but just in case...

If you get no answer after a reasonable post-holiday wait, I suggest resending without any attachments at all, in case their mail gateway blocks the entire message with an attachment rather than just stripping out the attachment itself.

On Sun, Dec 28, 2025 at 07:23:30PM -0700, Curtis Chong via NFBCS wrote:
   I submitted the following bug report to access at adobe.com. Wondering if
   anyone using Adobe Acrobat is encountering a problem similar to mine.

   From: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>
   Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2025 1:19 PM
   To: access at adobe.com
   Subject: Using Adobe Acrobat with JAWS to Fill in an Accessible PDF
   Form

   Greetings and felicitations:

   My name is Curtis Chong. I am blind. I routinely use the JAWS screen
   reader and Adobe Acrobat to read and (when necessary) fill out PDF
   forms. I do not, however, fill out PDF forms every time I choose to
   update the Adobe Acrobat software.

   I give you this information as a matter of full disclosure and
   additionally to report an editing problem I have noticed of late with
   the latest Adobe Acrobat software and JAWS version 2026. To be
   specific, I am running JAWS 2026 on a Windows 11 25H2 system, and the
   version of Adobe Acrobat I am running is Continuous Release | Version
   2025.001.20997 | 64-bit.

   Attached please find a PDF form which is used for voters in Colorado to
   register to vote. If you can’t accept attachments, here is the direct
   download link to the form:
   [1]https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/NVRA/files/COVoterRegistr
   ationAgency.pdf.

The Problem

   In JAWS, I use Manual Forms Mode. Consider the field in the attached
   file where one enters a last name. When I type in my last name,
   “Chong,” I am not able to verify what I typed using the traditional
   cursor movement keys--left/right arrow. I must necessarily press F6
   then Shift F6 to shift focus back to the edit field and, in so doing,
   have Forms Mode turned off. This is not the behavior that a screen
   reader user should experience when filling out a supposedly accessible
   PDF form.

   What should happen when I activate Forms Mode in the appropriate edit
   field is that I can review and edit the contents of the field and then
   Tab to the next field if necessary.

   If necessary, I can be reached by phone at +1-515-306-1654 if you are
   interested in discussing this issue. I look forward to your help and
   thank you in advance for your attention to this email.

   Yours sincerely,

   Curtis Chong

   Email: chong.curtis at gmail.com

   Phone: +1-515-306-1654.

References

   1. https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/NVRA/files/COVoterRegistrationAgency.pdf

Colorado Voter Registration Form Instructions
Register to vote
How to return this form
Find your county clerk and
recorder’s contact information at
GoVoteColorado.gov. Submit your
voter registration form to them:
• By mail
• By email
• In person
Or you can submit it by mail to:
Colorado Department of State
Elections Division 1700 Broadway,
Suite 550 Denver, CO 80290.

Questions?
Contact your county clerk and
recorder: GoVoteColorado.gov.
Contact the Secretary of State:
• Phone: 303-894-2200
• Fax: 303-869-4861
• Email: State.ElectionDivision@
coloradosos.gov
Check your registration status:
GoVoteColorado.gov on the page
“Find My Registration”

I have been arrested or convicted
of a crime
You can vote if you are:
• On probation for either a
misdemeanor or felony
• A pretrial detainee awaiting trial
• Currently in jail serving a
misdemeanor sentence only
• No longer serving a term of
imprisonment due to a felony
conviction.

I am between 15 and 17 years old
You can pre-register to vote in
Colorado. Once you turn 18 years
old, you can vote.

Use this form to register to vote in
elections in Colorado or update your
name, address, or political party
Register online
Save time.
Register online at
GoVoteColorado.gov.

Scan me

Are you eligible to register to vote?
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible to register to vote in
Colorado you must be:
• A United States citizen
• A Colorado resident for at least
22 days before the election you
intend to vote in
• Not currently serving a term
of imprisonment for a felony
conviction
• At least 15 years old. But, you
won’t be eligible to vote until you
are 18 years old.

If you were incarcerated due to
a felony conviction, you must re
register to vote.

Form FAQ
Which ID do I have to provide?
If you have a Colorado Driver’s
License or Colorado ID card, you
must provide that number.
If you don’t have a Colorado Driver’s
License or Colorado ID card, you can
provide the last 4 digits of your SSN.
If you don’t have a Colorado Driver’s
License, Colorado ID card, or SSN,
check the box. You may be required
to provide an acceptable ID from the
list on GoVoteColorado.gov.

Which address do I have to provide?
You must provide the address
where you currently live. If you have
another address where you receive
mail or if you want to receive your
ballot at another address, you must
provide those addresses too.
Why do you ask for my email?
We ask for your email in case
we have a question about your
application or ballot, and so we can
email you about upcoming elections.
Your email is confidential.
Your ballot and other election mail
will still be sent by regular mail.

What information is in the
public record?
We don’t share your sensitive
information including your social
security number, driver’s license
number, month and day of birth,
signature, and email.
But, the other information on your
application is public as required by
law. You may be eligible to keep
more of your voter information
private. For details contact your
county clerk and recorder.

Colorado Voter Registration Form Instructions
What happens next?
Thank you for registering to
vote or updating your voter
registration!
I am registering to vote for the
first time in Colorado
We will process your
application within 2 weeks of
receiving it. We will mail you an
official information card about
20 days after we receive your
registration.
I am updating my Colorado
voter registration record
You can check your status on
the website GoVoteColorado.
gov on the page “Find My
Registration”.
I am between 15 and 17 years
old and pre-registering to vote
We will mail you an official
information card about 20
days after we receive your
registration. You can check
your status once you turn 18
years old.
Do I need ID to vote?
If you are voting by mail for
the first time, you may need to
provide a photocopy of your ID.
If you vote in person, you must
show ID to vote. Find a list
of acceptable forms of ID at
GoVoteColorado.gov.

What if I want to vote by mail?
All Colorado registered voters
automatically receive ballots
by mail.
To vote by mail in the next
election, we must receive this
application at least 8 days
before Election Day. If we don’t
receive this application at least
8 days before Election Day,
then you must vote in person.
In every election after that, you
will receive a ballot by mail.
What if I want to vote
in person?
You can choose to vote in
person at your county Voter
Service and Polling Center in
your county.
All voters who vote in person
must provide ID. While
there are many forms of
acceptable ID, most voters
find it convenient to bring
their Colorado driver’s license
or Colorado ID. A Colorado
ID is available at no cost to
those who are eligible. Find
the full list of acceptable ID
at GoVoteColorado.gov. For
more information on obtaining
a Colorado ID, please contact
the Colorado Department
of Revenue.

If I’m unaffiliated, can I vote in
the primary election?
Yes. Unaffiliated voters are
eligible to vote in the primary
election. You can only vote in 1
party’s primary election.
If I’m unaffiliated, can I
participate in a party’s
caucus meeting?
No. To participate in a party
caucus meeting you must
join that party before the
party’s caucus. However, you
are still eligible to vote in any
participating party’s primary
election.

Page 1/2

Colorado Voter Registration Form - Agency
1. Eligibility

Required
Birthdate (Not today’s date)

Are you a US citizen?
Yes
No
If you answer no, do not complete this form

AND

2. Name

Required

Month

Provide your current legal name

Last name

Day

First name

3. Identification

See instructions

Year

Middle name

Suffix

Required

CO driver’s license or ID card

Last 4 digits of your SSN

OR

XXX XX

4. The address where you currently live in Colorado
Address

Unit #

No P.O. boxes

OR

I don’t have
a CO driver’s
license, ID card,
or SS card

Required

City or Town

CO County

Zip

I’m unhoused. This is the address I regularly return to. (Provide your mailing address in section 5)

5. The address where you currently receive mail
Same as
section 4

Address

See instructions
Unit #

6. The address where you want to receive your ballot
Same as section 4

Same as section 5

Address

City or Town

State

Zip

State

Zip

See instructions

Another address:
Unit #

City or Town

7. Declaration If you are unable to sign, make a mark and have a witness sign page 2

Required

WARNING: It is a Class 1 misdemeanor to swear or affirm falsely to your qualifications to register to vote.
I affirm that
• I am a citizen of the United States
• I have been a resident of Colorado for at least twenty-two days immediately before an election I intend to vote in
• I am at least 15 years old; and I understand that I must be at least 18 to be eligible to vote in any election.
I further affirm that the residence address I provided is my sole legal place of residence. I certify under penalty of
perjury that the information I have provided on this application is true to the best of my knowledge and belief; and
that I have not, nor will I, cast more than one ballot in any election.
Voter, sign or mark here with a pen

X

Date

Complete the form on page 2

Page 2/2

Colorado Voter Registration Form - Agency
8. Political affiliation
Party

Unaffiliated
Forward
Green
Libertarian
No Labels

American Constitution
Approval Voting
Center
Democratic

Republican
Unity

OR

I do not want to be affiliated
with a political party

9. Information about you In case we have a question about your application or ballot
Phone number with area code
Gender identity

Female

Email
Male

X

Prefer not to say

I would like to be an election judge

10. Updating your record?
I’m registering in Colorado for the first time
OR
I’m updating my home address

I’m updating my legal name

I’m updating my party affiliation

Previous home address

Previous legal name

Previous party affiliation

I’m no longer overseas

I’m no longer absent from Colorado due to military service

11. Witness signature

If you are unable to sign, have a witness complete this section

If the voter is unable to sign and you witnessed the voter make their mark on the front of this form, sign this section.
Witness, sign here with a pen

X

Date

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-- 
Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
"Pray devoutly, but hammer stoutly."
--Sir William G. Benham