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

[hlthe2b]

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

[dem4decades]

1. Did you double check?

[hlthe2b]

5. Yes. And, here are the exact instructions included:

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]

2. Get one!

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

[hlthe2b]

3. There was none and here are the instructions that do NOT mention (as they had before)

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]

7. I guess the county clerks must decide that NT

[hlthe2b]

8. Do you still have the instructions for yours? Can you check the language?

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

[Rorey]

9. Yes, I do

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]

10. Interesting. I'd bet a lot of people are going to be confused. I had the secrecy sleeve in primary

election.

This is Larimer County, btw.

thanks for checking!

[Rorey]

11. You're welcome

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]

21. I have heard of fake ballots being maile to people.

checking with county sounds like a very good plan.

[GemDigger]

4. I may be mistaken but I think all the hullabulloo about naked ballots is that they were NOT in a

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

[hlthe2b]

6. that was in Pennsylvania, where the Trump campaign has sued.

[2naSalit]

12. I got mine today too.

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.

[hlthe2b]

13. Did yours include a secrecy sleeve? (see posts upstream)

[2naSalit]

14. Oops...

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]

15. They verify your signature on the signed outer envelope and each ballot has bar code that is linked

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]

16. Ok.

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]

17. Ours haven't arrived yet..

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]

18. Oh, dear. well, my county voter registrar has returned my emails in years past so

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]

19. Not sure what you're talking about

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]

20. I lived/voted in Denver for more than 15 years. The privacy shield/folio/partial envelope has always

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]

22. WOW! Just got off the phone w Larimer County Registrar Angela Myers who called after seeing email

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]

23. I got mine yesterday in El Paso. This is the last thing on the instruction sheet.

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]

24. Yes.. Larimer should have included that language too. See my post #22

[hlthe2b]

25. So I just dropped off my ballot (4pm Sunday) at 24 hour. courthouse ballot box...

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.