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Issues Overview      FAQ's      In the News

Hot Spots in Colorado


The recent decertification and then recertification of voting machines, the ongoing challenges with the new statewide voter registration database, and the anticipated large turnout for the 2008 election will require increased vigilance of election administration and increased voter education and outreach to make sure that all Coloradans are able to participate.

Voting Machines: While counties now have a clearer sense of the type of voting equipment they will use this fall, the questions surrounding the integrity of the equipment remain. With the decertification and recertification of the voting machines also came requirements for upgrades and improvements to ensure the machines are meeting new requirements. Because of the ongoing machine problems we can expect a vote count challenge post election. We must ensure every county is monitored for security and machine integrity as well as effective post election audits. Voter confidence is important for a successful election.

Problems with the Statewide Database: SCORE II, Colorado’s new statewide voter database, is currently being tested and reports out of the Secretary of State’s office indicate ‘all will be well’ come this fall. Our concerns over the implementation of this new voter registration system stem from the fact that this database will serve as the gatekeeper for all voters. Any programming glitch, improper implementation, or simple data entry error could gravely impact a voter’s opportunity to cast a ballot and have it counted. While provisional ballots will be offered to any voter who is not on the registration list, only those provisional ballots that can be verified (through a voter registration list) will be counted. Anytime we see a major change in technology, we have heightened concern and will watch closely to ensure voters are protected.

The two examples above are new to 2008, but most election barriers occur time and again, every election year. The number one reason voters contact JVC on Election Day is to obtain basic information about their voter registration status and the location of their polling place.

Some of the annual election problems Colorado will face include:

1. Inadequate Voter Education: Voters are often unaware of fundamental voting rights such as ID requirements, their right to a provisional ballot, the hours of voting, and that they are entitled to time off from their employment.

2. Ballot Access for Vulnerable Populations: County specific issues such as language assistance and student voting remain. In the four corners area, there have been concerns about voter access for tribal communities. In La Plata and El Paso counties, there has been a history of complaints about voter intimidation to discourage student voting.

3. Provisional Ballots: Often these ballots are given out in excess and place the voter in a secondary status because their ballot needs to be verified after the close of the polls. Ideally, election judges can resolve a voter’s questions and find the voter’s proper registration to allow the voter to cast a regular ballot. In 2006, provisional ballots were used as back up ballots when polling places ran out of ballots or machines went down. Provisional ballots should not be used for this purpose; emergency paper ballots should be available.

4. Absentee (Mail) Ballots: Nearly every year we see ballots being sent out late with little remedy for voters. We must ensure ballots are sent on time, and that replacement ballots are available for voters who did not receive their mail ballots. We should also increase drop off locations, and make clear what the postage requirements are to limit voter confusion.

5. Election Judge training: Many Election Day issues can be traced back to inadequate training of election workers. Each county differs greatly in terms of the kind of training, length of training, even how issues are dealt with. Inadequate information and sometimes inaccurate information leads to unnecessary problems for voters on Election Day. Training must be improved and should include procedures on how to handle crisis situations.

6. Logistical/Planning problems: The key to a successful election is in proper planning and administration. In 2006 we saw many counties fail in their attempt to implement vote centers because of inadequate planning. County administrators can address such deficiencies through proper planning. Counties should be prepared for record turnout and have good contingency plans in place. Lessons from prior elections teach us what must be improved such as better communication plans between county offices and election workers and adequate supply and delivery procedures for back up ballots, provisional ballots, other materials needed at the polls.

 

In the News

November 13, 2008

 

Unanswered questions

 

November 12, 2008

 

44000 voters purged in state

 

November 11, 2008

 

Panel to ID election improvements in Colo.

 

Better voting is aim of Colorado election panel

 

November 6, 2008

 

Colorado Voters Vote Early in Smooth Elections

 

Few Polling Problems Reported In Denver
 

November 5, 2008

 

Legal, journalism experts criticize Clerk’s media ban

 

Nearly purged from rolls over check box, a first-time voter casts ballot

 

Satisfaction

 

Most of Colo. votes early; few glitches reported

 

Voters encounter some problems, but nothing to match 2006 calamities

Few election hiccups in Colo.

 

U.S. District Judges Intervene to Halt Voter Purging in Colorado, Mich.

 

November 4, 2008

 

Voting is a breeze in El Jebel

 

Carbondale draws electioneering line
 

Count every vote in 2008

 

Advocacy groups, lawyers, even FBI watching

 

1 million voting today the old-fashioned way

 

Late-night tallies expected

 

Report, track voting problems

 

Voting on Election Day in Colorado?

 

November 3, 2008

 

Restoring voter confidence in elections is essential to Democratic process

 

‘Paper dust’ could create Election Day hassle

 

Groups: Prepare for voting

October 31, 2008


Voter Purge Continues; Activists Demand Desist


What You Need To Know To Make Your Vote Count


Provisional Ballots Are Piling Up, But Many May Never Be Counted


October 30, 2008


Election Officials Brace For Huge Turnout


Colorado Agrees To Restore Voters To Rolls


A Win For Purged Voters


Voter Registration Lawsuit Resolved


Deal Ensures 20,000 Taken Off Rolls Can To Vote


October 29, 2008


AG Argues Against Reinstatement


Latest Developments In Colorado Voting Issues


Denver Officials To Review Ballot Procedures After Election


Judging By Numbers, It’s A Go

Make Your Vote Count In Pitkin County

October 28, 2008


Tipping the Scales—Up to 10,000 Registrations Deemed Incomplete in Colorado


Election Watchdog Group Warns of Ballot Shortage


Suthers and Coffman Agree On Registrations


Colorado Voter-Roll Tussle Lands In Court


Federal Judge Will Hear Colorado Voter Purge Case Wednesday


Missing Voter Ballots Now Topping 18,000


Latest Developments On Colorado Voting Issues


Missing Denver Ballots Head to Voter’s Mailboxes


Mail In Voters Have Already Broken Record


Boulder Clerk Adds Ballot Drop-Off Location, Dates


October 27, 2008

 

Colorado Sued To Reverse Voter Purges


Groups Sue Over Voter Purge, Urge CO Voters To Check Their Status

Election Officials: Everything’s OK

Clerk’s Office: Ignore Calls Telling Recipients Not to Vote

October 26, 2008


Group Sues On Voter Purge


Voting Rights Group Sues Colorado Secretary of State Over Purges


October 25, 2008


Coffman Sued Over Voter Purge


‘Missing’ Denver Mail Ballots Were Never Sent By Vendor


Missing Ballots Weren’t Prepared


October 24, 2008

 

Just Vote Colorado

Colorado Election Snafu Roundup: Clerks Resort to Robocalls to Fix Bad Registrations


Coffman, Arapahoe Clerk Reject Perlmutter’s Request for Polling Safeguards


Voter Sign-up Opinion Sought: Coffman Wants to Hear from AG on Box-Checking Dispute


October 23, 2008


No Margin For Errors: More Near Misses and Mistakes Highlight Election-Related Pressures


Frequently Asked Questions About Early Voting


Mail Those Ballots ASAP, Postal Service Urges


October 22, 2008


Brennan Center: 2008’s Voter Suppression Incidents So Far


Secretary of State Stands By Registration Check-Box Policy


Perlmutter Wants Election Monitor In Arapahoe County

Nearly 15 Percent of Colorado Voters Cast Early or Mail Ballots


October 21, 2008


Deluge of Requests Slows Mail Ballots


El Jebel ZIP Code Causes Confusion for Mail-In-Ballot Push


Early Voting Tally Doubles Tuesday


Interest In Voting-By-Mail Skyrockets in Colorado


October 20, 2008


Colorado Will Be Under Watchful Eyes of Media, Monitors on Election Day


Protect Your Vote- Carry This Number


Obama Assembles U.S.’s ‘Largest Law Firm’ For Voting


October 19, 2008


Voter Turnout May Top Record

October 18, 2008

 

JOHNSON: Looking for a few good monitors


Election Option: Early Voting Begins Monday

Pueblo County Clerk Says Colorado Ready for Election


October 17, 2008


Colorado Election Snafu Roundup: Are We Ready for Nov. 4?


Study: Colorado Not Ready for Voting Problems


New Colorado Voters Are Told to Reregister After Failure to Check Box on Form


Report Rips State’s Vote Readiness


October 16, 2008


Rise in Voting by Mail Transforms Race in Colorado


Colorado Deemed Among Least-Prepared To Handle Voting Ills


Registration Errors May Thwart Thousands of New Voters From Casting Mail-In Ballots


Quirks at the Clerks: Voters Fret About Errors, Glitches, and Strange Alliances


October 15, 2008


YouTube Asks Voters To Record Poll Problems


Purging Voter List Legal, AG Says


Flaws Found in Voter Drive Mailings to Colorado Women


Torn Ballot Stubs Won’t Cancel Votes


Early Voting Options Abound


October 14, 2008


Voting Forms Ruled Incomplete for Lack of Check Mark


Denver Doubling Number of Voting Booths


Over 6,000 in Colorado Not Registered Because of Unchecked Box


Voters Preparing For Long Ballot


October 13, 2008

 

Lose Your Home, Lose Your Vote?


Watchdog groups demand secretary of state accept incomplete voter registrations

 

Watch dog groups want Coffman to alter stance on voter forms

 

October 11, 2008


Public Election Test Certifies Voting Machines


October 10, 2008

 

Colorado Voters Could Face Major Election Day Troubles, Watchdog Groups Warn


No Vote for You: Coffman Responds to NYT Voter Purge Story


State Senator Accuses Clerk of Suppressing Votes


Coffman Says Report Wrong On Voter Purging

 

No Problems In Colorado With ACORN

Ballots Deemed ‘Undeliverable’


October 9, 2008


Colorado To Review How it Purges Voters’ Names

Coffman Says Report Wrong On Voter Purging

Ritter Scolds Coffman Over Voter Error


Coffman: Voter Purge Article ‘Way Off’


Lawmaker Calls Out El Paso Clerk Balink for ’12-Point Strategy’ On Voter Suppression


College Students Facing Barriers To Voting


Registration Shuffle: Would-Be Voters Find It Tough To Keep In Step


October 8, 2008


Is your vote safe?


States’ Actions To Block Voters Appear Illegal

Thousands of Colorado Applicants Rejected From Voter Rolls

Colorado Not Prepared for Anticipated Turnout

Coffman Stout Before Election


October 7, 2008


Battles Rage Over New Voters

Is Colorado The Next Florida?

Voting Rolls Grow 217,160

Clerk: 1,700 Voters Have Registration Problems

Denver County Voter Registration Form Issue Affects Thousands

Extra Postage For Ballots

CSU Groups Nudge Would-Be Voters to the Polls

Last Minute Registration Swamps Offices

October 6, 2008


The Dirty Details of Voter Purges


October 4, 2008


I Have a Criminal Record. Can I Vote?


September 29, 2008


Nation’s Largest Election Protection Coalition Launches Hotline, Website


September 25, 2008


Issues of oversight: John Gardner Returned to the County with Baggage, and Now Questions About His Honesty Arise


Fraud in the Forecast: Colorado Watchdogs Expect Corrupt Nov. 4 Election


 

September 24, 2008


4,000 Ballot Applications Sent to Wrong Voters in Adams County


Coffman: Election Returns to be a Day Late in Montrose


Balink Under Fire for Error on Colorado College Voter Registration

 


 

Just Vote Colorado Reports


Voting in 2008: Ten Swing States


2004 Fair Vote Colorado Post-Election Report


2006 Fair Vote Colorado Post-Election Report

 

 

 

 

Just Vote Colorado is not affiliated with or promoting any issue or candidate.