1. Jennifer Levin Senior Attorney Disability Law Colorado
I Vote Too!
Jennifer Levin
Senior Attorney
Disability Law Colorado

2. Agenda
Disability Law Colorado – Colorado’s Protection and Advocacy Organization
Vote! Program
Voting Rights Issues in Long Term Care Residential Facilities
Signature Matching Issues
Capacity to Vote
Collaboration with Colorado’s Ethics Committees on Aging
Vivage
El Paso and Teller County
I Vote Too! Project
Outreach
AMDA Conference

3. Disability Law Colorado
Colorado’s Protection and Advocacy Organization
Investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect
Individual Advocacy – Complaints alleging civil rights violations based on disability discrimination
Legislative Action
Outreach and Trainings
Systemic Impact Work
Monitoring

4. Vote! Program at Disability Law Colorado
PAVA Program – funded under the Help America Vote Act (“HAVA”)
Assist voters in filing HAVA complaints
Work with election officials to ensure an accessible voting process
Work with the Secretary of State on rulemaking and legislative action
Protect the rights of voters with disabilities through individual and systemic advocacy
Photo ID requirements
Accessible voting equipment
Accessible mail ballot process
Accessible Voting Service and Polling Centers (“VSPC”)
Vote! Program at Disability Law Colorado

5. Voting Rights Issues in Long Term Care Facilities
Signature Matching
Capacity

6. Signature Matching Changing Signatures Curing the Signature Age
Millennials
People over the age of 60
Disability
Memory Loss
Curing the Signature
Bi-partisan election judge team determines the match
Cure card is mailed to the voter
Cure card mailed back to the election office within 7 days of election day

7. Capacity to Vote
In Colorado, there are no restrictions to the right to vote based on capacity. How can you tell if a person has the ability to vote and should be given the opportunity to cast a ballot:
Demonstrates the intent to vote
Can direct their preference for their vote on the ballot
If the voter cannot articulate their intent and preference, a provider or caretaker should NOT vote for that person.
In Colorado, a guardian does not have the right to disenfranchise a voter
A presumption that a person cannot vote due to disability = discrimination
If a person with a disability needs assistance to vote, that person has the right to assistance from any person that they choose – except for a union representative or employer
The only way to take away a person’s right to vote in Colorado
Court order specifically stating that the person no longer has the right to vote

8. Colorado’s Ethics Committees on Aging
Long Term Care Community Ethics Committee at Vivage – Lakewood, CO
Chair
Fred Feinsod, M.D. C.M.D.
El Paso and Teller County Community Ethics Committee
Co- Chairs
Scott Bartlett, Lead Ombudsman El Paso and Teller Counties

9. I Vote Too!
Collaborative Effort with Disability Law Colorado and the Community Ethics Committees
Outreach Efforts
American Medical Directors Association Conference in 2020

10. Contact Information
Jennifer Levin
Senior Attorney
Disability Law Colorado
Disabilitylawco.org