Early voting to use only Express Vote Ballots

Colorado County prides itself on assisting voters with getting their ballots cast and making sure the voices of Colorado County voters are heard by providing accurate voting results.

The Elections Office mission statement is to uphold a high level of professional election standards to earn and preserve public confidence in the electoral process.

Many changes have been made to elections in the last couple of years, both on the local level, and in overall state legislation. Colorado County takes the accuracy and security of the voting process seriously. Elections is an ever-evolving beast and in the spotlight on both a national and local level.

Express Vote Ballots will be the only ballot option during early voting, Feb. 20 to March 1 due to the Election Code 123.005123.006.

The ExpressVote printing devices were rolled out in February of 2020. The Express Vote ballot is a “paper ballot”.

A traditional ballot may feel more familiar for some voters who have not used electronics, however, most voters who have voted on the printing device have quickly embraced the technology.

The ExpressVote Printer offers voters more capabilities for independent voting and puts voting back into the hands of voters that may have otherwise needed assistance.

They are touch screen ballot printing devices designed to make voting easier for the voter by offering a variety of capabilities:

• Enlarge the text for visual ease.

• Change the screen color for visual ease.

• Braille and tactile keypad to help with hand eye coordination.

• Audio to read the ballot.

• Touch screen for those who may have difficulty with fine motor skills.

The system gives several opportunities to change and verify votes including the printing of the ballot for the voter’s review before submitting.

These machines do not store votes.

The Express Vote printing devices are used during Early Voting because it provides the capability of providing branch early voting locations for countywide voting. It allows local elections to be added to the state/county ballot with greater ease.

Another added benefit is the cost savings between the blank Express Vote ballot and a pre-printed traditional ballot. Elections are expensive and the county elections office must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

If you ever need assistance to operate any voting equipment, ask an election official, they are always willing to help you get started.

Helpful hints when using the Express Vote

• You must use pressure when touching the screen. It is not sensitive.

• When making your choice, touch the middle of the box, not the corner and the choice will turn colors.

• If you want to skip a race and undervote the Express Vote will “caution” you, but you can continue to move forward without voting the race.

• It will ask you multiple times to check your ballot to make sure your choices are selected.

• Review your ballot after it’s printed, BEFORE you put it into the ballot box Voters can still receive a traditional scantron ballot in your precinct polling location on Election Day, March 05, 2024.