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Paper ballot edges back into voting process

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The dust is settling in the three-month-long controversy over how to conduct 2008 elections. And many Coloradans are wondering how they're going to cast ballots this Election Day.

The answer is fairly simple.

Most people will vote the same way they did in 2006. But a large number who had voted on electronic machines will also have the option to cast paper ballots.

The only major exception is in Denver. Two years ago, it was all e-voting at vote centers. This year, it will be mostly paper ballots at neighborhood polling places.

"The fact that we've called into question the integrity of the voting machines, offering paper ballots gives voters confidence that their ballots will be on a piece of paper that can be counted and is secure," said Jenny Flanagan, executive director of Colorado Common Cause.

Colorado is following a national trend - reducing the use of electronic voting machines in favor of paper ballots. And local election officials say the debate over how to conduct trustworthy elections is far from over.

Jefferson County, which has more active voters than any other county in Colorado, uses an all-electronic voting model. But officials may also offer voters paper ballots at polling sites, said deputy of elections Josh Liss.

The turmoil over voting methods began in December, when Secretary of State Mike Coffman banned thousands of e-voting and tallying machines used in all but 12 counties because of security and accuracy problems.

Then, top lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 189, which would have implemented a uniform statewide paper voting system. Currently, counties choose their own model.

Last month, Coffman recertified all the machines he previously banned, imposing restrictions and conditions for use. After stiff opposition from most clerks, SB 189 was defeated.

Casting ballots

Here's how voters in counties with the highest number of active voters will cast ballots during the Aug. 12 primary and Nov. 4 general elections. Polling sites must have at least one electronic voting machine to comply with requirements for disabled voters.

Jefferson (245,000 active voters): All-electronic machines at combined neighborhood precincts; may also offer paper ballots

El Paso (228,000): Paper ballots at neighborhood precincts

Arapahoe (227,000): All-electronic machines at combined neighborhood precincts; may also offer paper ballots

Denver (219,000): Paper ballots at combined neighborhood precincts.

Boulder (148,000): Paper ballots at neighborhood precincts

Larimer (143,000): Paper ballots or electronic machines at any polling place

Adams (128,000): All-electronic machines at any polling place; will offer some paper ballots

Douglas (115,000): Electronic machines and paper ballots at combined neighborhood precincts

Weld (92,000): All-electronic machines at any polling place

Pueblo (67,000): Paper ballots or electronic machines at combined neighborhood precincts