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CTD-RYV Voting
September 2, 2020  

     >> Perna:  We'll probably send you into breakouts, but if you need to drop off, I think that's where we'll be at 2:45.  But you can leave if are the breakout room.  
     >> Galanos:  On Monday, I called the Harris County clerk's office just to double‑check that Joanne and I would be receiving our mail‑in ballots, or absentee ballots, and the lady I spoke with said that they would be mailed out on the 19th, and we should see them in five to seven days afterwards.  
     I asked her, what is the latest somebody can request an application for an absentee or mail‑in ballot, and she replied that it was October the 23rd.  I thought that was quite late.  But so long as it ‑‑ the application is mailed in, they'll get it to the recipient as quickly as possible, and then the actual ballot must be filled out, mailed in, and postmarked by 5:00 the day after the election day.  
     >> Kafka:  It's highly unlikely in this environment to be counted, because who knows what's going to be ‑‑ you know, because, you know, there's less than, you know, 50 days until early voting.  
     >> Unfortunately, we have to be ‑‑ at least for now, we have to do the absentee voting because we're in a nursing home and locked in.  We're not allowed to leave.  Otherwise, I would say let's get on a Metro Lift paratransit and go to whatever our precinct is right here.  
     >> Bearden:  And that's something that will be interesting to talk about a little later, is that we actually have been working on some stuff for nursing homes in areas like that.  So we'll definitely bring all that up.  
     >> Galanos:  I also spoke with the activities director here, and supposedly between she and the social worker, they're getting ‑‑ supposedly, there's a big supposedly there ‑‑ getting people that want to vote their ballots.  
     But I've been in nursing homes for eight years now and I prefer to do all this stuff on my own.  Otherwise, it does not necessarily get done.  If I let somebody else take control, it simply doesn't get done.  
     >> Kafka:  Ted, did you request ‑‑ so you've gotten mail‑in ballots before?  
     >> Galanos:  I did it four years ago.  I've done it, actually, for the last three or four Presidential elections.  The problem I've had is trying to get off‑season ballots like the midterms and stuff for other local elections.  
     And then that's when the ball gets dropped.  If I don't do it myself and I rely on the activities person or whatever, evidently, it's not as important to them to get balloting for non‑Presidential season voting ballots.  
     >> Perna:  Hey, guys, it's 2:03, so we need to get started.  I hope y'all will continue this conversation in breakouts after.  Ted, I'll be posting Bob's contact info, so y'all can make sure you get all squared away with everything you need.  
     But we need to go ahead and get going, because as usual, we have a really ambitious agenda.  So I'm going to mute everyone and kick us off.  
     So, hi there.  My name is Laura Perna.  I'm the communications director here at CTD.  I'm a white woman with dark brown hair pulled back into a bun.  I'm wearing black glasses and a dark blue T‑shirt.  
     The wall behind me is white painted wooden slats with intermittent brown beams.  
     I'm going to quickly go over our Zoom functionality and accessibility today.  We are providing closed captions, which you can toggle on and off, and you can also change the size and the accessibility settings.  
     We will be using breakouts, and if you requested closed captioning when you registered, the captioner will follow you into the breakouts.  
     I've muted everyone and will ask you to stay muted until you go into the breakouts.  We've had some issues with people not being able to unmute themselves once they get there, so we're going to try unmuting everyone before we do that.  
     We'll be screen sharing a short video, so just know that in case you've got any other windows open on your device.  And we'll also be doing a couple of polls.  
     If you need any tech help, feel free to use the chat box to request that.  And we're watching info@txdisabilities.org if you don't have access to the chat.  
     We're leaving it up to you if you want to do speaker or gallery view.  We're not pinning anyone today.  I think speaker view will work best, but if you want to see who's in the room, certainly have a glance at gallery view.  
     And finally, this session will be recorded, so you can refer back to it, share it at any time.  
     And with that, I will hand the mic over to our wonderful longtime sponsor, Roger Deleon, from Amerigroup.  
     >> Deleon:  Good afternoon.  My name is Roger Deleon.  I want to briefly describe myself for those visually impaired.  I'm a Hispanic male in my mid 40s.  I speak English and Spanish, a little Tex‑Mex.  I'm wearing a white polo style shirt.  I'm sitting and right behind me I have an Amerigroup sign that's my backdrop.  
     Just want to take a few moments to say a few words.  So we at Amerigroup are very committed to ensuring people with disabilities are supported to live independently, promote self‑advocacy.  So it's very important to us, especially for advocates to engage in the future of disability.  
     We support person‑centered practices and the inclusive strategies for all people.  We hope to move into advocacy with these roundtable discussions.  Again, we thank you, our fellow Texans, for giving us Amerigroup to be part of your community.  
     Without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Chase Bearden, and on with the show.  
     >> Bearden:  Hi, and thank you, Roger, for all your years of support.  My name is Chase Bearden, I'm the deputy director of the Coalition of Texans With Disabilities.  A lot of the work I get to work on is a lot of times voting, and some of the other issues, but for this session, upcoming legislative session and during this period up to the elections, voting has become one of my bigger priorities.  
     I'm a white male ‑‑ for audio description, for those of you that are just on the phone, I use a wheelchair.  I'm a C56 quadriplegic and I have blonde hair.  Sitting in our guest bedroom, which is not that exciting, for those of you watching.  
     I'm going to cut my introduction short and put up on the screen a poll.  And the reason we're going to launch this poll is we want to get an idea of how people are voting this go‑around.  
     How do you plan to cast your ballot in the November election?  And you can click on multiple choice.  The first choice is a mail‑in ballot, and do you typically use that mail‑in ballot?  
     The second choice is mail‑in ballot, and this will be your first time using a mail‑in‑ballot.  Third choice is I will be early voting at a polling location.  Fourth choice is, I plan to vote on election day at a polling location.  The fifth one is, I plan to use curb side voting.  The sixth one is, not sure yet.  And the seventh is something else.  
     For those of you that might not be able to see this screen or you're just on the phone call, we will have the ability for y'all at the end, an email that will go out that will allow you to answer this.  It kind of just gives us an idea of how people are planning to vote, so we can also work a little harder in those areas.  I'll leave that up for a second while I turn it over to Dennis and let him do his intro.  Thanks.  
     >> Borel:  Thanks, Chase.  I am Dennis Borel.  I'm an Anglo male.  I've got a lot of gray going on.  Gray hair, gray beard, trimmed.  So, I look like, you know, Bob Kafka's younger days, I would like to say.  
     In the background, I actually have a virtual background, the front of the CTD building.  And it even has blue sky, which is not the case now.  I can hear the rain pounding on the roof down here.  Actually, very cool.  
     So the coalition of Texans Can Disabilities, everybody calls us CTD, we are cross‑disability, which means people of all ages, of all disabilities.  And frankly, voting is an excellent example of a cross‑disability issue that crosses all categories.  
     We're primarily an advocacy organization, working in the state capitol.  We get input from the community, which is why we're doing this today.  
     This is actually our fourth or fifth Raise Your Voice event.  Next Wednesday at 2:00, we'll be doing one on the topic of the adult dental benefit and Medicaid.  And on the 23rd, we'll be doing one on reform in medical cannabis.  We will be taking off September the 16th to recognize the civil rights holiday.  
     So, what you can expect.  We will value you, we will listen to you, and we will involve you.  We will share information with you.  Some of it may be on the processes of legislation and appropriation.  Some of it may be more detail, backgrounds, issues.  You'll work with other self‑advocates and share your ideas and experiences.  
     We do have four people on our staff that will be doing advocacy work.  Chase, myself, Jolene, and Jenn.  We are here to collaborate with you.  Not to lead, but to collaborate with you.  
     And where are we going all of this?  The answer is January 2021.  The 2021 legislative session.  We don't know what that's going to look like.  Nobody knows what that's going to look like.  Today, you cannot walk in the capitol.  You cannot enter it.  
     What will happen in January?  We don't know yet, but we will not back off from advocacy, nor should you.  
     So, given that, let's see... we have an outstanding guest.  Actually, one of the founders of CTD from 1978.  Truly an icon in the Disability Rights Movement.  Bob Kafka.  So, Bob, take it from here.  
     >> Kafka:  Thank you, Dennis.  I'm a white male with much longer white hair than Dennis Borel has.  I have a much frizzier beard.  Blue shirt and I would like to think I'm better looking.  But, you know, that's up to the eyes of the beholder.  
     I really first want to thank CTD for putting on these issue sessions.  One of the things that is really important as we go into this next election is to be educated on the issues.  I'm here today representing REV UP.  Most of you may know me as an ADAPT of Texas organizer, but we created a separate non‑profit called REV UP.  
     The acronym stands for Register, Educate, Vote, Use Your Power.  And I want to just show a quick minute and five second PSA that we use that I think just kind of encapsulates what the goals of REV UP is, and then I'll get into a little bit more detail when we come back.  
     >> John Hoffman and others.  Holding a flag.  Deborah Jackson holding a poster.  Vote as if your life depends on it, because it does, Justin Dart.  Label jars not people.  Power concedes nothing without a demand.  ADAPT.  James Payne holds a poster.  Bob Kafka.  Hand spelled vote in ASL.  Larry Hughes holds a REV UP poster.  Sandra petty.  
     >> I change the world when I vote.  You change the world when you vote.  And we change the world when we vote together.  
     >> The square images fill in the space to form the words REV UP.  Register, educate, vote.  Use your power.  Make the disability count vote.  Www.revuptexas.org.  
     >> Kafka:  You know, that short PSA that is available and you can use it in your local community sort of encapsulates what, you know, REV UP is about in terms of ‑‑ and the way it began was when our current governor was first running for the position of, we had always ‑‑ most of the groups individually had gotten together and did various different things, and I realized that, you know, everybody had some really good information.  
     And so thought if we could bring all this stuff together, not duplicate what other groups are doing, but build on it and create another non‑profit that would be focused on voting, that was really necessary.  And so that was the impetus.  A coalition of groups got together, CTD was really one of the founding and big supporters.  
     But also the ARC of Texas, the Texas State Independent Living Council, Texas Parent‑to‑parent, the Texas advocates all came together, and we held the first Texas disability issues forum.  
     And again, that's where we invited both democratic and republican, and I want to emphasize to those of you who may be representing organizations that are 501c3.  We are not partisan.  Again, if one party happens to be supportive of those issues, we support those candidates.  
     But the whole intent is to build the fact that there is such a thing as the disability vote.  You know, sometimes in the disability community, we talk to ourselves, we think if we throw out the number, 5.2 million people with disabilities, that's going to scare them.  You know, in terms of that.  
     But really, what is necessary is to do what other civil rights groups have done.  It's really necessary for grass roots organizing.  And in Texas, it really is a challenge, because local organizing in the state this large is really difficult.  The cultures are different.  The whole service array is different.  And people are experiencing things.  
     So, again, we have focused on things first.  Obviously, you need to register to vote.  The last day to register to vote in Texas is October the 5th.  Again, and it has been difficult to do traditional voter registration drives, obviously because COVID‑19.  
     But there's a simple way that if you're not registered or you wanted to do a campaign in your local community, by going to the website www.register2vote.org.  
     Again, what that does, it's an online submittal, you send it in, and they then will send you a filled out voter registration card with the postage paid envelope with the correct address to go and register.  
     You can use that not only to register, but you can also use that same www.register2vote.org.  You can do that do any change of address.  So for those in the audience who represent organizations, or you have a network that you can outreach, we are really encouraging you to, you know, disseminate that.  
     The July 13th through 17th Was National Disability Voter Registration Week, but what is coming up, and something you can focus on, and REV UP will be doing for a campaign, is National Voter Registration Day, and that is going to be September the 22nd.  That is just a nationwide, not just disability, where groups, nonpartisan groups have come together all over the country to promote, you know, turnout in this election.  
     And I just want to emphasize that in this very, very contentious atmosphere, turnout is what's going to win the election.  There may be difficulty in changing people's minds.  So that is the registering.  
     The education, we're also doing issue education, the CTD, Raise Your Voice is very helpful in terms of educating people on some of the issues, but there's a lot of resources that we have on the REV UP website in terms of that.  
     And then voting.  Okay, two things.  One, if you plan to vote in person, I encourage you to vote early.  That's October 13th through the 30th.  And encourage everybody you know.  Because November 3rd may be long lines, if you wait to do that.  
     And with COVID‑19, you don't know what to expect in terms of, you know, contagion.  And if you want to vote by mail, absentee or mail‑in, you know, people use them interchangeably, please request your application for a mail‑in ballot, if you haven't done it before.  
     Because in Texas, we have one of the most restrictive mail‑in ballot processes.  There's only three reasons that you can vote by mail in law.  One, if you have a disability, if you're over 65, or if you're out of the county or the country.  So those are the three.  
     And disability is defined, you know, sort of loosely.  But our attorney general has put some restrictions that just the fear of COVID‑19 is not a justification for checking the ballot.  
     But if you do want to mail‑in ballot, I also encourage, apply for it today, encourage people in your community to apply for it today, and when you get it, fill it out and turn it in that day or the next day at the latest.  Again, you've seen all the news stories about, you know, the U.S. postal service being inundated and things not getting there in time.  
     If you want to make sure that the Texas disability vote is influential and your vote will count, I really want to, you know, encourage you to join in REV UP what we're calling the I Vote Early campaign.  There's information at the end of my presentation where you can get on the website, and there are a bunch of resources.  
     So, I think I'll leave it there.  Our next REV UP meeting is a Zoom meeting on September 10th, and if you want information about that, please contact me at revuptx@gmail.com.  And I'll give you information about the upcoming REV UP meeting.  
     Thank you.  
     >> Bearden:  Thanks, Bob.  This is Chase.  I wanted to thank y'all for all the work you're doing with REV UP and reach out and get new voters and also make sure that people understand all the rules and regulations.  
     First, I wanted to share the poll results for you.  Part of the reason we did this is it gives us an idea where people are thinking.  We have a lot of work to ensure that accessibility across the board from no matter how you vote, being at a polling site, or using a mail‑in ballot or curbside is the most successful option, no matter what.  
     We want to make sure that every option is available to everyone.  
     So for us, the poll results ‑‑ and I'll go ahead and let you know for those of you on the phone, for the first time, mail‑in ballots, it was 19%.  For those using mail‑in ballot that typically use a mail‑in ballot, it's 14%.  48% of people will be early voting.  5% will be voting on election day.  I strongly support ‑‑ or suggest making sure you get there early if you're planning on voting on election day.  
     5% are looking at using curbside voting.  Make sure you've called ahead of time so that you know the number you need.  And there are 10% who still aren't sure.  
     So that kind of gives us an idea of where we're heading.  
     And I want to go into some of the issues we've been working on.  CTD, along with some of the other groups, some on the call right now have been in two pieces of different litigation against the state to improve voter rights.  Majority of these have come up very quickly as we've been dealing with COVID and seeing how many in the disability community are using a mail‑in ballot for the first time, or maybe the second time because they were able to in the primary.  
     I myself had never used the process, and until we started working through it, I didn't realize how many issues around accessibility there were in that.  
     So the first piece of litigation we're in is looking at the signatures and signature identification and matching.  So the State of Texas, when your mail‑in ballot comes in, if the envelope where you've signed the outside doesn't match the signature they have on file, it gets tossed aside.  It doesn't get used.  
     You won't find out until ten days after the election.  So you have no way of actually curing your vote and having a chance to correct that.  
     We brought to their attention that many in the disability community, those who are aging or may be in the hospital, may have lost some use of their dexterity and their ability to sign using a different type of pen, on a different surface can do the same thing.  
     I know when I originally signed my voter registration, I was trying to do it on a table up high, and I can guarantee the signature probably doesn't match how I sign things now.  
     One of the issues too that we'll talk about in interim charges is on signatures.  So part of what we're doing is trying to find a way to get the state to look at signature verification and the committees, the people who are doing it, and find some kind of recourse to give everyone a chance to cure their ballot if it gets rejected.  
     So the only advice we can give you right now is make sure, every time you sign your name, on the ballot or on the ballot envelope, that you try and match as closely as possible how you originally signed.  If you need to set up books and make it exactly the way you did it beforehand, make sure you do that.  
     The other piece of litigation we're in right now is working with ACBT and others on making sure ballots are fully accessible.  For many, when you get an ‑‑ well, you don't get an electronic ballot.  When you get your mail‑in ballot or absentee ballot in the mail, there is no accessible format offered.  It comes as is.  
     So for those who can't read due to blindness or any other reason, print reason, they struggle with being able to have a private and secure ballot.  It forces you to have to rely on other people and assist them.  Someone to come in your home and help you fill out the ballot.  
     That means you also have to trust them that they did it the way that you wanted.  And for us, the most secure ballot is one that you don't need assistance with.  It's one that you get to vote the way you plan on voting without any kind of interference.  
     So we are urging the Secretary of State's office and we have been moving through this process and in hopes that we have this set up by November to allow people who want to request getting an electronic version of the ballot sent to them, that they would then use, similar to what the military or overseas people do, to be able to click an electronic link, download their ballot, fill it out using JAWS or any accessible format technology you use.  
     Then print it and send it back.  
     Recently in Virginia, in the Commonwealth, they actually settled with the State and they are going to have it in place ‑‑ I see Kenneth's arms going up ‑‑ in place for the next election.  So that was a huge win.  There's other states that are now following suit.  
     We just need Texas to get it done as quickly as possible, and to at least allow for any of the counties who want to do it in the next election, to have that opportunity to do for their citizens.  
     Right now, the Secretary of State's office is not allowing any counties to do it.  We've had counties tell us they are willing to try if they can get the green light.  So we are working hard to get those issues done.  
     Some of the other issues we're working on is coming up on the interim charges.  There are two that we are working at and that we plan on sending in information, and I'll read those quickly to y'all for those of you that don't have access to them.  
     The house committee on elections, on HB4130, which requires the Secretary of State to develop procedures for adequately certifying electronic poll books, review the provision requiring the Secretary of State to adopt rules mandating realtime updates for electronic poll books used during the early voting period, or under the countywide polling place program, monitor and report on countywide polling, examine the numbers and location of polling places.  
     For us, we're going to submit comments in that area to try and ensure that people are looking at the accessibility of it.  I've seen one of those electronic poll books at the time another a poll site, and they had the cords tangled up, they couldn't get it close enough to me, so the person working there said just make an X as best you can.  
     Well, under the current program, that X would go into the system that would be on as my signature.  So later on, if I do a mail‑in ballot, and that doesn't match, then I start to have issues.  
     So making sure, no matter what, the way we do elections is that we try and be consistent across the board and ensure that one area of accessibility doesn't affect us in another portion of voting.  
     So for us, we want to make sure that if your signature is going to be recorded, that you have the adequate ability to sign that.  
     The State Senate is going to be also doing an interim charge.  This one I'll read out loud to you.  
     Study the integrity and security of voter registration roles, voting elections, voting machines, voting qualification procedures to reduce election fraud in Texas.  Specifically, study and make recommendations to, 1, ensure counties are accurately verifying voter eligibility after voter registration.  
     Two, improve training requirements for mail‑in ballot signature verification committees.  
     Three, ensure every voter has access to a polling station, particularly in counties that have adopted Countywide polling.  
     Four, allow the voter register and County clerk and Secretary of State to suspend an unqualified voter's registration or remove an ineligible voter from a list of registered voters.  
     Five, ensure compliance with laws that prohibit school trustees and employees from improperly using funds to advocate for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.  
     Now, all of those don't fit for what we want to have done, so we're going to focus on the signature requirements for mail‑in ballots.  And also bring to light the issues that people are having when you look at voter security and having to accept assistance.  
     If you can make it to where people don't need assistance, their ballot is more secure.  So we will work on those, and our plan is to hopefully have feedback from you guys to add in as we go.  Interim charge studies are being worked on as we go over the next month or two, so we want to make sure to get those notes in soon.  
     On another note, for us, our priorities for this upcoming legislative session are ensure that blind voters and those with mobility impairments have access to mail‑in ballots in a format that allows them to cast their vote privately and independently.  
     That also includes having a sample ballot ahead of time that you can look at for every county and gives you the information you need to prepare for the election.  
     The other priority is address the state's faulty policies around mail‑in ballot signature verifications and ensure that voters have an opportunity to cure their ballots.  
     And lastly, to stop any bad legislation that could create barriers to anybody trying to vote and make it accessible.  So, last session, we had multiple bills come out that would have made it harder and created more barriers for the disability community.  Our goal is to make sure that none of those get through, and that we can work on making every piece of legislation something that will benefit all of us.  
     Those are just the up front priorities we're working on.  I know there will be more, and as we listen to what y'all come up with, it will allow us to work towards making sure we can meet those needs and get those put into the legislative session that's coming up.  
     Next, I believe I am passing it over to Laura to give y'all some breakout tips.  I'm going to start by giving you the prompt of what we like from y'all, as we send you into these breakout rooms, is to have a discussion with those in there about what barriers or concerns do you have for the upcoming November elections, and what do you need?  
     What is it we can do to help make sure it is accessible for you and into the future?  So, Laura, I will turn it over to you.  
     >> Perna:  Thanks, Chase.  I will be sending you into breakouts in a moment.  I wanted to quickly give you some tips and just let you know what was coming.  
     You'll be automatically placed into breakouts.  You don't need to hit any buttons or agree to join.  If you're using ‑‑ if you requested captions or CART, just a reminder that the CART provider will be going with you into your breakout, so you'll still have captions in there.  
     We're going to right now unmute everyone manually.  We've had some issues with, especially folks on the phone not being able to unmute once they get into breakouts.  So, with the experimental feel of these sessions, I hope y'all won't mind that we're using you as guinea pigs to see if we can unmute you in the main room, if that stays with you into breakouts and that solves that problem.  
     So, when you do get into your breakout room, do a quick sound check to make sure that everybody's mic is turned on, and y'all can hear each other.  You may still need to unmute yourself once you get in there.  And there is a call for help button.  A few of us will be in the main room to help you if something goes awry.  
     Once you do get in there, audio description is encouraged once you start talking.  We've found that it's helpful to pass the mic in your breakout room by naming your next speaker.  Make sure you're giving everyone a chance to speak.  We'll have about ten to 12 minutes in the breakouts, and if you notice that there's a countdown clock and you've been talking for six minutes the whole time, and no one else has said anything, stop and pass the mic to someone else.  
     Certainly, use the raise hand feature if that is something your group is comfortable doing.  And finally, when y'all have about two minutes left, I'll send out an alert.  If you're used to seeing these, go ahead and read that out for your entire group, for folks who really aren't used to seeing these very user unfriendly small texted alerts, as well as anybody who's calling in on the phone.  
     So, that is all I have for tips.  We'll have about ten minutes to discuss the barriers or concerns you have for the November elections and what you might need to comfortably and confidently have crossed your ballot.  Off you go.  
     >> Hey, Jolene. Al 
     >> Hey.  How are you?  
     >> I'm okay.  
     >> I guess I'm being heard.  
     >> Yes.  
     >> I hear you.  
     >> I don't have my video on because my bandwidth is not the greatest today for some reason.  
     >> Yeah, no worries.  It happens all the time.  
     >> And living in a nursing home, it's ‑‑ sometimes it can be really great, sometimes it's not so great.  But this is Ted, if you don't recognize my voice already.  I'm totally blind, in a wheelchair, have amputations to my fingers, and long hair, brown braided down my left shoulder.  
     >> Hi, Ted.  I remember you from another one of our Raise Your Voice events.  This is Jolene Foster.  I'm the advocacy director at CTD.  I'm a white woman with black rimmed glasses and brown hair pulled up in a bun.  I'm wearing a pink shirt and a brown sweater because it's freezing in my house right now.  
     And behind me are just various things I've picked up antiquing with friends and some of my kids' art.  
     >> And Joanne, my significant other is sitting off to my left.  I don't know that she's in view of the camera.  But she's in here as well listening in.  
     I did have one question, speaking about the signature stuff.  Being that I'm totally blind, being that I'd already said that we were both going to be getting absentee or mail‑in ballots, Joanne, obviously I trust her, and she will fill out my ballot.  
     But I use a signature stamp, and I've used that for years and years and years, because with the amputations to my fingers, I can't ‑‑ I don't have the dexterity, I don't have the fingers to hold a pen anymore to sign my name, and I don't have the vision obviously to sign my name any more either.  
     So I've got two choices.  One, she signs my name for me and initializes as a witness, or I use the signature stamp, and of course, she will actually mechanically use the stamp for me.  
     >> Sure.  
     >> But I've used the stamp on the application for my Texas ID, I've used it on numerous medical records, probably also the voter registration card.  We both have our voter registration cards in the file cabinet here.  
     Will that signature stamp work, or is that going to be one of those things they look for and throw it out?  
     >> That's an excellent question, Ted.  Susie, who you may know at CTD, we had this conversation not too long ago where I believe she did use her stamp.  That's what she had intended to use moving forward as well.  And I think I would want to ask her just to get clarification on it.  If I remember correctly, and Joey, jump in here if you have any other information, too, I know you're really well‑connected.  
     It was my understanding that that would ‑‑ that would ‑‑ like, that would qualify, that would ‑‑ it wouldn't disqualify the ballot.  But I think I'd want to confirm with Susie since she's actually used her stamp.  
     >> Okay.  
     >> Just to get clarification from her.  And I'm happy to do that, or we can ask whenever we go back into the main room.  There will be an opportunity to ask some questions.  
     >> Right.  Please, thank you.  And the one time I did have problem with using my stamp was actually a medical situation where, for a period of time, I had to use a noninvasive ventilator because I had severe pneumonia that nearly killed me, and this was about five years ago.  
     And even though I'm in a nursing home, the home health company that was providing this piece of equipment would not take my signature stamp.  They insisted I sign and X holding the pen with my teeth.  
     >> Wow.  
     >> Because I was not able to really hold the pen any other way.  And so I did the X with my teeth like they insisted.  But I would much rather have preferred using the stamp since I had it available.  
     >> It's really interesting, and interesting that the source that is requiring you to do that should kind of it seems like be more accommodating.  
     >> Accommodating or forgiving, one of the two.  
     >> So I guess in thinking about the questions that Chase and Laura posed, what are your concerns or any questions you have thinking ‑‑ 
     >> Right.  And blind persons overall, when they're asked to sign a signature line, sometimes people that are blind that can sign their own name may or may not use a signature guide.  And I can guarantee you that their signature isn't going to be identical every time they sign something.  The fact that they can't see what they're signing.  
     Especially those that have been totally blind all their life.  Some people that have had sight, and I had sight for a while, but I lost over a period of time, lost more and more digits, and to the point where I couldn't hold a pen at all.  
     But I guarantee you any time I had a little bit of a revision or an amputation to a finger, my signature did change.  But those that might have been able to see and sign their name, and then suddenly go blind later in life, their signature may stay similar as they progress in their life with no site.  
     But eventually, the memory of their signature will fade, and it's not going to be the same every time.  
     >> I think these are excellent points that lawmakers don't think about.  I think it would be really great to point this out on ‑‑ you know, providing comments, some of those interim charges, because I don't think these are the kind of things that are in the forefront of their minds, and you make a really good point that your signature ‑‑ I mean, I think anybody ‑‑ I mean, our signatures are going to change over time.  But for a person with a disability who's experienced what you've experienced, I mean, it's not going to match from day‑to‑day to year to year.  
     And I don't think that that's ‑‑ 
     >> Somebody who has spacticity issues, their signature is never going to be the same twice.  
     >> It seems like ‑‑ you know, it really seems like the ‑‑ isn't this the ballot board that is looking at the ballots and looking at the signatures and making this call, where there's something to look into or not?  It seems like they really need to have training in all of this, right?  
     And they need to have training about why a signature might look a little bit different, and it's not ‑‑ it should never be, like, a suspicious sort of thing.  But that's what it seems like to me, at least.  
     >> It seems like a really kind of subjective determination ‑‑ 
     >> It's not black and white.  It's very much gray.  Uh‑huh.  
     >> Yeah.  So you may have somebody who is, you know, their thought process is to consider these types of things and what variations might ‑‑ or why variations might exist.  But I think it's a good point, Joey, that there should be some kind of training or some kind of information, awareness, whatever you want to call it.  
     Instead of kind of just going, you know, coming from the perspective of being suspicious about differences in the signature.  
     >> Yes.  We have 254 counties, and a lot of ‑‑ you know, you never know who's going to be on those ballot boards, and, you know, people can think just anything is suspicious.  Even if it is just a variation over time for somebody who is not blind or disabled.  
     Yeah, I don't know.  Just a thought.  
     The article that came out recently talking about the experience for people who are in nursing homes elsewhere and how they wouldn't be able to fill it because the people working there were not going to assist them, is that something that applies in Texas?  Do y'all know?  
     >> By the way, a two‑minute warning just popped up.  
     >> Thank you, Ted.  I was going to say that, too, but I didn't want to interrupt.  Sorry, go ahead.  Joey, you were asking if that's ‑‑ 
     >> Is that accurate?  Like, is that happening in Texas?  Would that be happening in Texas?  
     >> If I understood the question right, seeing as I lived in a nursing home, I've experienced it.  Two years ago, I wanted to vote for the non‑Presidential year, and I asked them, please help me get this done, and it didn't happen.  
     In fact, the mail‑in ballot or the application for the mail‑in ballot got put in a folder and never to be seen again until, like, a year later.  And then it's a year or two late.  
     So, they're not exactly the most proactive and this probably varies from nursing home to nursing home, and activities director to activities director.  
     They tell me ‑‑ the activities director here tells me that they're proactively doing something.  I don't know.  I chose to do it myself, because I just don't trust anymore.  And likewise with Joanne.  And having had the problems that we had from the previous nursing home.  
     >> I think it's COVID‑related.  

     
     
     >> Perna:  All right.  I'm always encouraged when everybody comes back right at the 60‑second mark.  I feel like that means y'all are having really engaged conversations.  
     >> Kafka:  Or image of you, Laura, was the hatchet.  The grains of sand were falling around with the countdown.  I felt intimidated.  But we came back.  
     >> Perna:  I'm going to mute everyone again, and then we'll go on.  
     >> Kafka:  And, Laura, I'm going to leave.  
     >> Perna:  Okay.  Thanks for sticking around, Bob.  
     >> Kafka:  Thank you.  Thanks, Chase.  
     >> Perna:  Chase, I just muted everyone, including you, so you'll have to start over.  
     >> Bearden:  Thank you for catching that.  Everyone was staring at me.  First of all, thank y'all for going through that and I hope y'all had some good discussions.  
     I know it's a quick amount of time to do it, but what we want to do right now is if you can click on the chat option and type in some of the common themes that y'all talked about.  That way it creates a record for us of the areas and issues.  
     It also lets us know what are the most important issues to you, and as we work on them, it gives us a chance to contact y'all.  
     We also would love to get as much feedback, if there's an issue you're having, and you want to call, or email me, and we can work on it, we are more than happy to do that.  
     But for right now, we want to keep pushing to make sure we can make this next election first as accessible as possible for all of y'all, and those you represent, and work from there through the legislative session to continue building on that momentum.  
     But like Dennis said at the beginning, this is one of those things where the more input you give us, the better we can build policy that meets everyone's needs.  We don't want to act like we know everything that's affecting people.  It's definitely not the case.  
     So as y'all add things in there, we'll work through these.  I'm also going to put up a poll here in a little bit.  It's just a, what did you think of this session.  We've had good feedback and others that don't like this format.  So, we're trying to cater to how people can improve things during this COVID time.  
     We'd much rather be sitting in front of y'all on a table and hashing all this out.  But for where we're at right now, that's ‑‑ I think this is one of the most effective ways we can do that.  
     We're also going to have a follow‑up survey that will come to y'all through an email that will allow you to put more information.  So if you're not able to get to the chat function, type something in fast enough, that will be available to you.  It will give us a chance to speak more, or if you want to talk to us, let us know, and we'll contact you and work on these issues.  
     So I'm going to launch that poll and I'll read it for those of you on the phone.  
     The question is, how was today's session for you?  First answer is great, second answer is okay, I would have done some things differently, and the last question is, I didn't like this.  Feel free to let us know, because it helps us work on how we can improve things for all of you, and you won't hurt our feelings too bad.  
     So, Laura, I'll turn it over to you.  Or I think I was supposed to follow up with Dennis.  
     >> Borel:  Yes, you were.  That's okay, Chase.  
     So, yes, you'll get some follow‑up emails, and again, we have a couple more sessions coming up.  Next Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.  Adult dental benefit and Medicaid, where there is virtually nothing right now.  And we're not at square one there, so learn about that one, too.  
     I wanted to tell you briefly that chase is right, we want to listen to this because we don't sit around and try to figure out what to do, we listen to you to try to figure out what kind of public policy changes need to be made.  
     And to give you an example, our very first Raise Your Voice, which was four ago, one of our great leaders brought the question of older individuals with blindness and how small that program was, and we looked at that and said, you know what, that's right.  And we since have circled back with that self‑advocate.  And have, you know, weighed in with the state agency that administers that.  
     And hat's office to the self‑advocate in this group for doing this, but I think it's also valuable when ‑‑ like a CTD, for example, can back folks.  So that's one that came from you all, came from the grass roots.  
     Now, I want to mention also, of course, that this is a ‑‑ there's no charge to any of these Raise Your Voice events, these roundtables, but there is a cost.  So if you're wondering how on Earth we're doing this for free, the answer is we have sponsors, and the sponsors are basically covering all the costs so we can do these, and I think we're well on our way to doing quite a few.  
     And it's tremendously valuable.  
     So, who are those sponsors?  You might be asking yourself who are those sponsors?  Well, they're at different levels.  But at the silver level, sort of the entry level, is Care Source, Shield Healthcare, and MCNA.  
     The next higher level sponsorship, the gold sponsors, the DentaQuest partnership, AstraZeneca, and Anged.  
     And on to the diamond levels of sponsors, Amerigroup, and thanks, Roger Deleon for joining us today.  You really have been a great friend for quite a few years now.  
     CDS in Texas, Pharma, and Superior Health Plan.  And our top sponsors, our underwriting level sponsors are United Healthcare and Hark Intercivic, and those folks have really allowed us to do this and do this as a no‑cost service to people with disabilities and their family, their friends, their advocates, their caregivers, their providers throughout the State of Texas.  
     So we really appreciate them.  And I think that just about closes it.  Laura or Chase, do you have any final remarks?  
     >> Bearden:  This is Chase.  I was reading through some of the chat questions, and I'll work through all of those, and answer them as best I can and respond back to as many of y'all as I can.  
     If you have any other questions, like we said in the survey, respond back to us and let us know, and we'll work on trying to work through all these issues and make sure we get past it.  Thank you.  
     >> Perna:  And I'll be dropping a few links in the chat, which will also be in your follow‑up email.  The registration links for our next Raise Your Voice sessions, the feedback survey from today, and then more about REV UP and how you can get in touch with Bob.  
     And I'm also very excited that it's 2:59, and we're finishing early.  Good job, everyone.  
     >> Borel:  One minute.  So let them go early.  And vote!  
     >> Bearden:  Yes.