Election Officials: Everything's OK

Questions flew like chads in the wind Monday as more than 100 potential voters grilled election officials at the Carnegie Room at Penrose Library about election planning and what might go wrong on Nov. 4.

Officials from the Secretary of State's Office couldn't make it, but El Paso County election manager Liz Olson and chief deputy Terry Sholdt spent 90 minutes assuring the crowd they have a handle on the election.

"We feel very confident with the accuracy and security of our equipment," Olson said, standing in for Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink, who couldn't attend because of a previous engagement.

The forum, about ballot access and election integrity, was sponsored by The Colorado Springs Independent, The Gazette and KOAA/Channels 5&30.

Some of the questions:

Q. How do touch screens keep a record of votes?

A. Touch-screen machines create a paper record that acts as an audit trail. The paper record of each vote serves as the official record of the machine.

Q. How long will the lines be on Election Day?

A. "You can only process one voter at a time," Olson said. "The potential is very high there will be waiting in line." That's why election officials have encouraged voters to go to an early voting site or vote by mail.

Q. What if someone didn't check a box on his voter registration form and, therefore, wasn't registered?

A. About 1,500 people in El Paso County did not completely fill out their registration forms and have been notified of this by mail so they can take steps to complete their registrations. If they don't and go to a polling place on Nov. 4, they will be given a provisional ballot.

Q. What is a provisional ballot?

A. Provisional ballots are provided to voters who, for a variety of reasons, may not appear on the voter logs or whose registration is in question. Provisional ballots aren't counted on Election Day. But within days, the ballots are verified as to whether they were cast by eligible voters and then added to the final tally.

Q. Can people wear McCain T-shirts or Obama buttons to vote on Nov. 4?

A. No. Law prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of a polling place. Anyone wearing clothing or articles promoting an issue or candidate will be asked to leave and remove the article.

Questions? Call 575-VOTE.

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Contact the writer: 636-0238 or pam.zubeck@gazette.com

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