Voters enthused about mail option

Clerks reach out as presidential election looms

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 04:52 p.m., March 26, 2008
Updated 11:43 p.m., March 26, 2008

Coloradans are responding so enthusiastically to a new option to become permanent mail voters that officials predict about half of state ballots for president will be cast before Election Day.

Since March 17, Jefferson County election officials have received more than 55,000 applications from registered voters who want to only vote by mail - an option that became available last year through a new law.

With the new applicants, nearly half of Jefferson County's 250,000 active voters will cast ballots by mail this year, said the county's deputy of elections, Josh Liss.

The applications arrived in response to a letter the county sent two weeks ago to more than 200,000 voters about the new mail voting alternative. Many other county clerks are gearing up to do similar outreach campaigns.

The presidential election is expected to draw record turnout, and clerks want as many people as possible to vote by mail to shorten lines on Election Day.

"If everybody's paying attention around the state and if all the election offices around the state get out the word . . . I'd be surprised if half the state didn't request a mail ballot or vote early," El Paso County Clerk Bob Balink said Wednesday.

The option to vote by mail without being out of state on Election Day is becoming more popular nationwide, and Colorado is one of four states that allow voters to use that option during every election, according to the Early Voting Information Center at Reed College in Oregon.

Education drives coming

Colorado elections in 2004 and 2006 saw growing numbers of mail voters in most large counties. Clerks plan education campaigns to let voters know their options this year and to clear up confusion about recent turmoil over certification of electronic voting and tallying machines and legislation pushing for paper ballots.

After months of uncertainty, Secretary of State Mike Coffman has approved all e-voting equipment for use this year. And a bill calling for paper ballots died last week.

Mail voting also is generally cheaper than polling place voting. A survey of more than 40 county clerks conducted three months ago estimated it would cost $9.6 million to do all-mail voting for the primary and general elections, compared with $18.3 million for polling place elections.

Denver will conduct an education campaign about the county's new paper-based voting system being implemented this year and will encourage voters to use mail and early voting. "We're going to ask voters to shift their mindset from Election Day to the concept of election season," said spokesman Alton Dillard.

'I wish they'd all do it'

Douglas County Clerk Jack Arrowsmith said his letter about the permanent mail voting option is being printed and will be sent out next week to 160,000 active and inactive voters in the county. He also expects to launch a Web page by mid-April where voters can check whether they are signed up as mail voters and can monitor the status of their ballots.

Larimer County Clerk Scott Doyle hopes to add 40,000 to the 60,000 current permanent mail voters in his county. That would be half of all registered voters in the county.

"I wish they'd all do it," he said.

Adams County Clerk Karen Long said many voters see mail voting as more convenient.

"I've had people of all ages tell me it is much easier for them to sit at the kitchen table . . . and have time to study (the ballot) rather than be hurried at the polling place," she said.

kimm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2361

Casting ballots

Ways to vote for Aug. 12 primary and Nov. 4 election:

* Mail: Go to your county clerk's office and ask to vote by mail - for one or both elections or permanently. Your ballot will arrive in the mail about three weeks before Election Day and you can send it back or drop it off at designated sites. For information, go to sos.state.co.us or call 303-894-2200.

* Early: You can go to designated polling sites in your county up to 10 days before the primary and 15 days before Election Day to cast your vote. Those are largely done on voting machines.

* Election Day: You can go to designated polling sites in your county.