Panel OKs greater flexibility

DENVER - Secretary of State Mike Coffman got his first approval Thursday to move ahead with plans to retest and recertify voting machines that were taken offline in December because of security and accuracy problems.

The House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee unanimously approved a bill that would allow Coffman more flexibility in recertifying machines in 53 counties without watering down the state’s testing requirements.

The Colorado County Clerks Association later requested that the Legislature scrap electronic voting for the 2008 election and go to an allmail ballot.

House Bill 1155 requires Coffman to submit information within 30 days of the bill’s signing to show how the state will handle recertification.

The bill, which now goes to the full House, is the first step in addressing concerns about how the state can conduct the 2008 elections in light of voting machine problems.

“I think it’s certainly necessary to move forward with this so that we can restore the confidence of the voters of Colorado and ensure them that we can have a safe and secure election in 2008,” said Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, who wrote the measure with Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial.

On Dec. 17, Coffman decertified voting machines by three of the four vendors that supply Colorado counties because of errors, lack of a paper trail of votes or risk of sabotage. El Paso and Teller were two of 11 counties whose voting machines were certified.

Last week, Coffman said he had identified possible fixes and could test all machines within 45 days, provided the Legislature streamlined the process.

Three citizens groups argued that because testing and meetings have been private, the law should require that future meetings between Coffman and clerks be open to restore public confidence. Balmer said he would add such a provision.

The bill does nothing to settle the debate about whether the state should consider using paper ballots almost exclusively this year, either at polling places or through allmail-ballot elections. On Thursday afternoon, that fight heated up.

At its winter conference in Pueblo, the association requested an all-mail ballot vote, saying it’s the most certain way to ensure that every Coloradan gets to vote this year. It also is cheaper than a polling-place election, the association said.

“It is critical that the Legislature works with the clerks and moves swiftly on this measure,” said Nancy Amick, president of the association. “In a normal presidential election year, our planning would already be under way, and we cannot afford to lose any more valuable time.”

Not all county clerks agree with Thursday’s request. Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, said at least eight clerks have expressed opposition, including those in Denver and Pueblo counties and El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink.

Balink has asked that counties with certified electronic voting machines be allowed to choose whether to use them or rely only on a mail ballot. A number of citizen activists also went before a special legislative committee this month and asked for a polling-place election rather than an all-mail ballot.

CONTACT THE WRITER: (303) 837-0613 or ed.sealover@gazette.com