40,000 in county ask for mail-in ballot

Maybe it's the high price of gas or a backlash against standing in lines with the only reward being an "I Voted" sticker.

Whatever the reason, requests for mail-in ballots are pouring into the El Paso County Elections Department.

As of Tuesday, the county Elections Department had received more than 40,000 mail-in ballot applications. The department sent out applications to nearly 300,000 registered voters, which is costing the county $50,000, according to manager Liz Olson.

It's likely a one-time expense because thanks to a 2007 law, voters won't have to re-apply for mail-in status.

Eligible voters have the option of being placed on a permanent mail-ballot list for all countywide elections, and about 80 percent of applicants have done so.

In the last presidential election in 2004, only 22,754 mail-in ballots were sent in.

Olson attributed this year's jump to the change in the law.

"Plenty of voters are happy to wave goodbye to the polling line," she said.

Voters can mail in ballots for the August primary election, the November general election or both.

Olson said nearly 90 percent so far have chosen to register for both the primary and general elections, which she attributed to increased public interest in the presidential election in November.

The Election Department expects to receive more than 100,000 mail-in ballots for the general election.

In addition to convenience, Olsen said, mail-in ballots are a way to relieve pressure on election judges, volunteers who preside over polling places after a 3½-hour training course.

Some, though, see it as an invitation to throw elections into chaos.

Charles Corry of Colorado Springs has observed mail-in balloting since 2000 and believes it lacks transparency and raises questions of voter fraud.

"Their method of verifying the ballots is pretty much a joke," the president of the nonprofit group Equal Justice Foundation said.

A ballot must be signed, and election judges will then compare the signature with that on the original application.

Olson acknowledged there are concerns about voter fraud with mail-in ballots but said those can be addressed by asking voters to confirm any signatures that are in question.

Corry also scoffed at the idea of increased convenience.

"Lines in polling stations occur when those touch (voting) screens break down, not because of too many voters," he said.

If you have not received a mail-in voter application, you can print one out at the county Election Department Web site.

For a primary election ballot, you must designate your political party.

A copy of identification, either with the original application or with the ballot, must be included to validate a vote.

Accepted forms of identification include a copied Colorado driver's license, U.S. passport, birth certificate or utility bill.

The voter registration deadline for the August primary is July 14 and mail-in ballots must be received seven days before the elections.

Olson emphasized voters still have the option to vote early or on the day of the election at polling places, unlike last fall's all-mail election.