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hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:09 PM Oct 2020

Got my Colorado ballot today. It appears they dispensed with the "secrecy" envelope...

Last edited Sat Oct 10, 2020, 11:35 PM - Edit history (2)

It wasn't included and the instructions didn't mention it...

BTW, I haven't received the BLUE BOOK (2020 Colorado Voter Information booklet), but here is the link for it online if, like me, you want to get that ballot out ASAP (mine is getting hand-delivered Monday morning).

https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/blue_book_english_for_web_2020_1.pdf

***EDIT*** Ok, all I summarize a phone call I just received from our registrar for Larimer County, Angela Myers who called me back Saturday evening (yeah, I'm impressed). Her information was extremely useful so that is why I'm making a separate post. Please see my follow-up downstream. See my post#22

25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Got my Colorado ballot today. It appears they dispensed with the "secrecy" envelope... (Original Post) hlthe2b Oct 2020 OP
Did you double check? dem4decades Oct 2020 #1
Yes. And, here are the exact instructions included: hlthe2b Oct 2020 #5
Get one! Rorey Oct 2020 #2
There was none and here are the instructions that do NOT mention (as they had before) hlthe2b Oct 2020 #3
I guess the county clerks must decide that NT Rorey Oct 2020 #7
Do you still have the instructions for yours? Can you check the language? hlthe2b Oct 2020 #8
Yes, I do Rorey Oct 2020 #9
Interesting. I'd bet a lot of people are going to be confused. I had the secrecy sleeve in primary hlthe2b Oct 2020 #10
You're welcome Rorey Oct 2020 #11
I have heard of fake ballots being maile to people. dixiegrrrrl Oct 2020 #21
I may be mistaken but I think all the hullabulloo about naked ballots is that they were NOT in a GemDigger Oct 2020 #4
that was in Pennsylvania, where the Trump campaign has sued. hlthe2b Oct 2020 #6
I got mine today too. 2naSalit Oct 2020 #12
Did yours include a secrecy sleeve? (see posts upstream) hlthe2b Oct 2020 #13
Oops... 2naSalit Oct 2020 #14
They verify your signature on the signed outer envelope and each ballot has bar code that is linked hlthe2b Oct 2020 #15
Ok. 2naSalit Oct 2020 #16
Ours haven't arrived yet.. mountain grammy Oct 2020 #17
Oh, dear. well, my county voter registrar has returned my emails in years past so hlthe2b Oct 2020 #18
Not sure what you're talking about locks Oct 2020 #19
I lived/voted in Denver for more than 15 years. The privacy shield/folio/partial envelope has always hlthe2b Oct 2020 #20
WOW! Just got off the phone w Larimer County Registrar Angela Myers who called after seeing email hlthe2b Oct 2020 #22
I got mine yesterday in El Paso. This is the last thing on the instruction sheet. Autumn Oct 2020 #23
Yes.. Larimer should have included that language too. See my post #22 hlthe2b Oct 2020 #24
So I just dropped off my ballot (4pm Sunday) at 24 hour. courthouse ballot box... hlthe2b Oct 2020 #25

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
5. Yes. And, here are the exact instructions included:
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:18 PM
Oct 2020

1. Refold your ballot
2. Place your ballot in the official return envelope
3. Sign and date the self-affirmation located on your ownofficial return envelope. See the example to the right.

Important:
You must sign the self-affirmation on the envelope.
Do not sign, initial, or print your name on the ballot
The official return envelope may only contain your ballot. If you include another voter's ballot in the same envelope, none of the ballots will count.



It is possible that my own county has dispensed with the privacy envelopes. Will you check the instructions included with your ballot to see if it is as above or mentions the outer "wrap?"

Rorey

(8,512 posts)
2. Get one!
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:11 PM
Oct 2020

I'm pretty sure that it's required. I'm in Colorado too, and I did get the secrecy envelope.

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
3. There was none and here are the instructions that do NOT mention (as they had before)
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:17 PM
Oct 2020

1. Refold your ballot
2. Place your ballot in the official return envelope
3. Sign and date the self-affirmation located on your ownofficial return envelope. See the example to the right.

Important:
You must sign the self-affirmation on the envelope.
Do not sign, initial, or print your name on the ballot
The official return envelope may only contain your ballot. If you include another voter's ballot in the same envelope, none of the ballots will count.



It is possible that my own county has dispensed with the privacy envelopes. Will you check the instructions included with your ballot to see if it is as above or mentions the outer "wrap?"

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
8. Do you still have the instructions for yours? Can you check the language?
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:27 PM
Oct 2020

I just emailed the county clerk/recorder. Hopefully, she gets back to me (and clarifies for all voters however possible)

Rorey

(8,512 posts)
9. Yes, I do
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:38 PM
Oct 2020

1. Refold your ballot
2. Place your ballot inside the secrecy sleeve
3. Place the secrecy sleeve and ballot in the official return envelope
4. Sign and date the self-affirmation located on your own official return envelope.

Editing to add: I'm in Pueblo County

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
10. Interesting. I'd bet a lot of people are going to be confused. I had the secrecy sleeve in primary
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:42 PM
Oct 2020

election.

This is Larimer County, btw.

thanks for checking!

Rorey

(8,512 posts)
11. You're welcome
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:46 PM
Oct 2020

I was going to try to take a pic, but I always have to re-learn how to do the uploading to here thing, and I'm kinda lazy.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
21. I have heard of fake ballots being maile to people.
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 11:16 PM
Oct 2020

checking with county sounds like a very good plan.

GemDigger

(4,320 posts)
4. I may be mistaken but I think all the hullabulloo about naked ballots is that they were NOT in a
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 07:18 PM
Oct 2020

secrecy envelope. I would call the county clerks office and find out before you let it leave your hands.

2naSalit

(91,937 posts)
12. I got mine today too.
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:09 PM
Oct 2020

But I have to wait until Tuesday to drop it off at the registrar because Monday is a holiday. I have to do some homework about a couple referenda anyway.

2naSalit

(91,937 posts)
14. Oops...
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:13 PM
Oct 2020

I didn't notice this was the Colorado group! I'm in Montana. But now I'm interested in what they are doing to verify authenticity. Do they require some sort of info anywhere?

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
15. They verify your signature on the signed outer envelope and each ballot has bar code that is linked
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:16 PM
Oct 2020

to one voter and one voter only. CO uses both the signed voter registration card and your driver's license signature to check against (the latter only if there is a question). If the reviewer doesn't think they match, they contact you if you get it in early enough or make it provisional, which would require you to follow up. If you track the bar code, you would know both when it was received and if there was an issue.

2naSalit

(91,937 posts)
16. Ok.
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 08:22 PM
Oct 2020

That sounds reasonable. We have the security envelope and sign the outer one which already has my name and address on it, I just sign and date. I have it all filled in except two referenda that I want to look into a little more before I decide.

I can't wait until this part is over so we can get on with the next part.

mountain grammy

(27,161 posts)
17. Ours haven't arrived yet..
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 09:02 PM
Oct 2020

my friend in Arapahoe County says no secrecy sleeve and nothing in instructions about it. But now she tells me at the bottom of the ballot there's a question in red saying 'want a secrecy sleeve? Follow these instructions' and there are no instructions 🙄. Weird..

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
18. Oh, dear. well, my county voter registrar has returned my emails in years past so
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 09:32 PM
Oct 2020

perhaps she will Monday. If not, I guess I will call them before I hand deliver my ballot.

I can't imagine Colorado would allow any hijinx in this regard. But, it is frustrating.

locks

(2,012 posts)
19. Not sure what you're talking about
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 10:53 PM
Oct 2020

I have voted in Denver and Boulder Colorado in every election for 45 years and have never seen a secrecy envelope. My ballot looks just like every one has and the directions are quite clear. Simply fold it and put it in the envelope and sign on the signature line on the back of the envelope. No postage required if you drop off the ballot in one of many drop off boxes any time. Or if you need help the instruction sheets list all the voting centers open times.
The Blue Book is helpful but I think the "B Gallagher Amendment Repeal" is very confusing. CO ACLU sent out a flyer today about Propositions 76, 115, 113 and 118.

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
20. I lived/voted in Denver for more than 15 years. The privacy shield/folio/partial envelope has always
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 11:10 PM
Oct 2020

been included for a mail-in ballot. Likewise in every election, including the recent primary in Larimer County, until this one.

So, yes, if you are aware of the controversy in other states (e.g., Pennsylvania) where the R's are trying to invalidate ballots mailed in without the privacy envelope (so-called "naked" ballot) then you'd know why this is alarming to a lot of us. While that has always been superflous, it was nonetheless a required component. So, it is critical to know if this has been OFFICIALLY eliminated--whether in one county or statewide.

If you look at some of the other poster's comments, it appears that at least one county (Pueblo) still is requiring them and her instruction language reflected that, while mine did not on this current ballot. I have sent a direct inquiry to our county voter registrar and clerk, who I know slightly. I will post a summary of her reply.

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
22. WOW! Just got off the phone w Larimer County Registrar Angela Myers who called after seeing email
Sat Oct 10, 2020, 11:34 PM
Oct 2020

inquiry.

The bottom line is that Colorado is now allowing those counties that have new updated equipment that processes and validates signatures WITHOUT the need to open the envelope, followed by removal of the ballot "blindly" to dispense with the security envelopes. She said Larimer was the first, but many counties have followed (undoubtedly Denver, Denver metro).

So, while it was mentioned that Pueblo still sends out these privacy inner envelopes and references them in the instructions, other counties will not and that's ok.

Gotta say I am impressed that she called me back (especiallly on a Saturday night). Now that's a public servant.


So, if you don't get one with your ballot and the instructions don't mention it, not to worry.

Autumn

(45,976 posts)
23. I got mine yesterday in El Paso. This is the last thing on the instruction sheet.
Sun Oct 11, 2020, 01:07 PM
Oct 2020

No secrecy sleeve.
Our ballot processing equipment and procedures ensure the privacy of your vote. A secrecy sleeve is no longer required in a mail ballot packet. Do not return this instruction sheet .

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
25. So I just dropped off my ballot (4pm Sunday) at 24 hour. courthouse ballot box...
Sun Oct 11, 2020, 06:17 PM
Oct 2020

There were a good three dozen people in the parking lot milling around, with a few signs, so as I strode up wearing my blue "VOTE" facemask, I asked what was going on. Seems the RWers are protesting facemasks. (obviously Trumpsters)... But they were polite and assembling peacefully, so I placed my ballot in the secured box and turned to leave. One Trump sign and one ANTI-POLIS sign on the way out and the rest just trying to avoid being all but blown away in the heavy wind.

At any rate, I feel good. I will be able to track my ballot via the barcode tomorrow to show it has not only been received but processed. I've waited for this for four years now... and it feels good to do this tiny bit.



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