Boulder County ACLU NEWS
December 27, 2005
For Immediate Release
ACLU Asks for Time to Comment on County Vote Tabulation System Bid
In a request sent today, the Boulder County ACLU asks the Boulder County Elections Office for a meaningful chance to comment on a bid proposal( RFP) for a new voting tabulation system to be used at precinct polling places/vote centers. The text is below.
The Boulder ACLU Board of Directors wants time to review the 40-page proposal and provide specific input on behalf of our more than 2,300 County ACLU members. It is impossible to do so in two business days over the Christmas holidays.
The soundness and integrity of our voting system is fundamental to the operation of democracy. Voting rights are an essential civil liberty. Concerns of accuracy, reliability, accessability and public confidence in a new and unknown voting system deserve true public scrutiny.
Boulder County ACLU by:
Judd Golden, Chapter Chair 303-442-6355
juddgolden@xxxxxxxxxxx
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Sent by email 12-27-05 to Boulder County Clerk Linda Salas, Boulder County Commissioners and to the official comment section on the election office's webpage:
"The Boulder County Chapter of ACLU of Colorado (ACLU) requests an extension of time to submit comments to the Boulder County Elections Office's recently issued RFP for "a new voting tabulation system to be used at precinct polling places/vote centers."
We believe the time frame for comments is woefully inadequate. The County’s request for comments was released on Thursday, December 22, 2005 and ended at 9:00 am on Wednesday, December 28th, allowing only two days for truly public comment because of the Christmas holiday closures.
A decision of this magnitude requires a minimum of 30 business days for the public to consider, review and comment on issues of such great import to our County. The soundness and integrity of our voting system is fundamental to the operation of democracy.
The ACLU believes the Clerk and County should avoid the appearance that this request for public comments is disingenuous and extend the comment period until Wednesday, February 1st, 2006."