I hope that each of you will
take time to write Hillary Hall (hhall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and tell her that you
vehemently oppose forcing voters to vote using mail ballots or electronic
ballots.
I am very disappointed that Ms.
Hall has come to her conclusion without first consulting with us.
As you know, in November 2002 county clerks lost their bid
to force us to vote using mail ballot elections. They are using the
election certification turmoil to try to override the massive defeat of
Amendment 28. They are spreading false information to do so.
We need Ms. Hall to
understand that voters do not trust mail ballot elections, the problems with mail
ballot elections have not be resolved, and there is an alternative to mail
ballot elections for the 2008 elections.
Check out the new TAB, November
2008, on the Colorado Voter Group website -- http://alkolwicz.net/november2008.aspx
Thanks.
Al
Al Kolwicz
Colorado Voter Group
2867
Tincup Circle
Boulder,
CO 80305
303-494-1540
www.coloradovotergroup.blogspot.com
|
|
Clerks urge all-mail vote in '08
Voting machine delays spell disaster, they say
What's next
The four vendors that provide voting machines to most of the counties in
Colorado have until Nov. 16 to provide documentation needed to retest and
certify their equipment.
Secretary of State Mike Coffman has threatened to ban the equipmentfor use
in the 2008 presidential election if they fail to meet the deadline.
Coffman says he's on track to complete retesting and the certification
process by mid-December. The state kicked off testing of voting machines in
April to comply with the law.
The process includes a rigorous review of software, operating systems,
documentation and computer hardware.
The recertification process is comprised of 400 separate state requirements
applied through 1,200 tests.
Source: Joint Budget Committee and Colorado Secretary of State
Boulder County's
elections chief supports a move that would change state law to allow an all
mail-ballot election in 2008, she said Friday.
Clerk and Recorder Hillary Hall said Boulder County is prepared to deal with
either a mail-in or standard election, but that other Colorado counties are
not.
"We need to look at which process will allow the most number of voters
to participate and have their vote accurately counted," she said. "In
2006, there were a lot of voters who left the lines because of problems with
implementation."
County clerks from across the state told lawmakers Thursday that a change
may be needed to avert a looming disaster because delays certifying voting
machines is hampering planning for the presidential election.
Secretary of State Mike Coffman has warned the four vendors that provide
voting machines to Colorado counties that their machines would be banned if
they fail to turn over crucial documents needed to complete retests of their
equipment by Friday.
If that happens, county clerks say they would be forced to go to an all-mail
ballot, which is not allowed by state law for general elections, or purchase
new machinesjust months before the election.
"This deals with the entire system. To say we are concerned is an
understatement," said Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith.
Coffman said his office is on track to complete the certification of voting
machines next month, but there is no guarantee that all the equipment will meet
state standards and be certified.
The electronic voting machines used in Colorado are used in most other
states. But many states are questioning the integrity of these machines.
In August, California's secretary of state announced severe restrictions in
the use of many of the same machines for next year's elections because of
security concerns.
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A change in state law to allow an all-mail election next year wouldn't solve
everything, since federal law requires polling places to provide electronic
voting machines for disabled voters.
Coffman pins the blame for slow certification process on the vendors.
In August, Coffman said that Premier Electronic Solutions, Hart InterCivic,
ES&S and Sequoia have been slow to provide information needed to retest and
certify voting machines as required by state law and a court order and set the
deadline.
Three of the four vendors have complied, but ES&S has not met the
requirement and is in danger of having its machines decertified for the 2008
general election, Coffman said.
"The vendors have been playing this game of chicken with us,"
Coffman said. "I had to get tough."
If some machines don't meet state and federal requirements, Coffman said he
has formed a panel comprised of county clerks and lawmakers to craft a backup
plan that could include paper and mail-in ballots.
Coffman said he's confident the counties and the state are on track to have
a good election next November. But lawmakers remain skeptical.
Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said the Legislature may be forced next year to
suspend some state statutes to allow for mail-ballot election or to allow
existing voting machines to be used.
"If we couldn't change the law, it would seem almost hopeless," he
said. "It seems like the county clerks are all hemmed in from all sides by
these laws we've passed and the way the secretary of state is implementing
them.
"For the first time this morning, I started thinking there was a
possibility that we could have people not voting."
Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider contributed to this report.
© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.