ID confusion could nullify 35,000 Colorado mail ballots
By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Kevin Vaughan, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 30, 2008 at 6:46 p.m.
Photo by Javier Manzano © The Rocky
A driver receives "I Voted" stickers after dropping off her mail-in ballot outside the Denver Elections Commission in early voting.
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More than 35,000 newly registered Colorado voters could see their mail ballots tossed out because of confusion over the need to include a copy of their ID with their votes.
The state requires county clerks to verify the identification of all new voters. Often, it's as simple as comparing a driver's license number on a voter registration form to the state's motor vehicle database.
But when that check runs into trouble - in cases, for example, when the license number is copied down incorrectly - county clerks want to see the identification.
This year has seen an unprecedented surge in voter registrations.
And according to the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, as of Monday 35,620 first-time voters whose identity had not been verified requested mail ballots.
Those voters should have been instructed to photocopy their driver's license or other identification and include it when they mailed back their ballots. If they fail to, the ballots will be treated as though they are provisional. That means county clerks will attempt after the election to verify the identity of the voter. If they can't, the ballots will be disqualified.
"They're not really registered," Douglas County Clerk and Recorder Jack Arrowsmith said of voters whose identity can't be verified.
Campaigns and get-out-the vote efforts have been aimed at educating new voters about the rule.
"We are working on making sure people know about that requirement," said Steve Fenberg, executive director of New Era Colorado, which registered nearly 12,000 new voters this year. "It should be pretty clear in their ballot if they need to do it."
But - like Colorado election laws - it can be confusing.
Take the case of James Haynes, a 38-year-old middle-school teacher who moved to Brighton in August from California.
He and his wife downloaded voter registration forms and mailed them in on the same day, requesting to vote by mail.
The couple received their mail ballots a week apart and their ballots had different colored stripes on the return envelopes.
Haynes said he carefully read the instructions and found no indication that he needed to include a copy of his identification with his ballot. But just to be sure, he took his and his wife's ballots to an Adams County early voting site.
There, he said, he was told his ballot required him to provide his identification, but his wife's didn't.
A motor vehicle office employee copied his California driver's license and put it in the envelope with the ballot.
Haynes said the directions are confusing and he's received conflicting information from poll workers and people at the elections office when he called.
"If I had mailed it in, I think it would have been rejected without knowing why," he said. "My concern is other people send it in (without a copy of ID) and how many ballots are going to be rejected?"
Shawn Siemsen, another first- time voter in Adams County, had a similar experience.
The fine print on his ballot indicated he did not need to provide a copy of his identification.
He stopped at a motor vehicle office in Westminster to drop off his ballot. A clerk saw a red mark on his envelope - a cue in that county that he is a new voter whose ID hadn't been verified. She asked Siemsen whether he put a copy of his driver's license inside.
"I thought about doing it just to be safe, but when I read it, I just said, 'Oh, I don't have to do it,' " Siemsen said.
Ultimately, he opened his envelope and inserted a copy of his driver's license to guarantee that his vote will be counted.
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October 30, 2008
7:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
I can't believe they accept photo copies of ID's through the mail. New voters should be required to show their ID in person.
October 30, 2008
7:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
roadstar writes:
Shaggy, your post doesn't directly relate to the article. You are making very deceiving allegations based upon your political leanings. Hope you don't make decisions at work like that.
October 30, 2008
7:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
Shaggy, as the old saying goes "money talks, b.s. walks". And some people wonder why the media is leaning further and further left. Who's got the big campaign bucks to spend on ads???
Why is it still close? Same answer. Numbers can be skewed any way they want. But I'm sure you knew all that.
October 30, 2008
7:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
ghoax writes:
"It should be pretty clear in their ballot if they need to do it."
But — like Colorado election laws — it can be confusing."
to who, those who can't or don't read, or was it the idiots that needed to be signed up that the democrats mentioned in their not so secret memo?
Give me a break, follow the rules, read the instructions and your vote will be cast.
I'm surprised they knew to even put postage on the envelope...or perhaps someone did that for them too.
given the amount of "confusion" and the difficulty many democrats are having reading and filling out their ballot, the earlier policies of only letting land owners vote are starting to seem pretty wise on their part.
October 30, 2008
7:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
ghoax,
Now you only need to rent a park bench in order to vote! Will their new tax rebate and stimulus checks be sent to the park bench address?
October 30, 2008
8:09 p.m.
Suggest removal
fifty writes:
Irregardless of what your ballot states, enclose a copy of your driver's license if you haven't recently voted in Colorado. People spend so much of their time on this lengthy ballot, it would be a shame if it were not counted.
October 30, 2008
8:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
HolierThanThou writes:
If conservatives had their way, they'd still be credited with an extra three fifths of a vote for every slave they owned.
October 30, 2008
8:27 p.m.
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ThoughtSausage writes:
Irregardless isn't a word. I wish people would stop using it.
Sorry, I know this doesn't pertain to the article.
October 30, 2008
8:28 p.m.
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GladysKravitz writes:
this is a bunch of BS. I have a friend who recently moved hear from North Carolina and registered for a mail in ballot. He was a new voter and recieved his ballot and it did not ask him to include an ID, although he was a first time Colorado voter.
They should accept all the mail in ballots! Just another effort by the Republican Coffman to suppress votes! He is Colorado's Katherine Harris.
October 30, 2008
8:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
jrhino writes:
If there an American citizen let um vote. No Accorn illegals.
October 30, 2008
9:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
BigSky182 writes:
Gladys:
I just finished my mail in ballot and the instructions to include a copy of your id are quite clear.
In fact, if you need to include your ID, the is an added line, right on the ballot envelope, in red ink, that says "Please include your id".
Any who gets disqualified over this either can't or won't read.
October 30, 2008
9:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
p_myers661 writes:
They should require an official, picture ID to vote.
Any citizen can register and vote. We make both of these simple. To defend against an organized campaign of fraud we must also make the system ID dependent.
ID is required by many different systems and entities that are not governmental. Government has the responsibility to protect the ballot box from thieves. I wouldn't worry about any substantial vote fraud this year. Neither side has shown any evidence of ability to organize as much as a potty break.
October 30, 2008
9:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
please stay calm, folks. if you believe you may be affected by this new development, please call the denver county clerks office at 720-913-VOTE (8683).
there will be forthcoming information on how the city will resolve this issue. they will do everything within their power to make sure no vote is lost because of these late season, heavy-handed tactics.
October 30, 2008
9:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
thoughtfulcolorado writes:
Mike Coffman messes up more and more!
Coffman is manipulating Colorado’s voter registrations to benefit his partisan affiliation . . . What a surprise, the Republican Party, the experts in ballot manipulation!
October 30, 2008
9:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
Nice "scare" headline, RMN. This is just a set-up in case Obama doesn't win Colorado. The Dems will be in there screaming "Count EVERY vote!"; except, of course, those from select voting stations in predominantly Republican areas, just like they wanted to pick and choose which counties to recount in Florida, AND block the mail-in ballots of overseas military members. Its still close because people are finding out more and more every day, sometimes from his own mouth, what a radical Obama is and, poor option that they might feel it is, McCain still may be the safer bet. As the Bard wrote many years ago about one certain human frailty, "...and so we rather bear those ills we have than fly to those we know not of..." Of course, the MSM has already proclaimed the election over, and crowned Obama. Ask Thomas Dewey how that worked out for him in 1948. Mike
October 30, 2008
10:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
DenGirl writes:
They should authorize and train persons at drop off locations to check IDs ... This really is the most dysfunctional election ever. Even if someone has never voted before they should still have the right.
October 30, 2008
10:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
glacierdude writes:
There was an internet story going around about the 50 biggest lies being told by Barack Obama. I read them and then consulted www.snopes.com which is considered THE go to place if you want to check if something is indeed true. Snopes is SUPPOSED to be totally non-partisan and yet what I discovered is when I go to Snopes they list by NUMBER the lies that are being told yet their response is by "bullet points" not numbers. If one reads (as I did) the Snopes response it appears like it is calling the entire list a pack of lies and lists item after item in it's effort to discredit. What nobody is getting is that Snopes ONLY RESPONDS TO 22 items on the list....not the entire list of 50 as people who don't check things out very closely naturally assume. Nowhere does it say that, indeed, 28 of the 50 are lies. That means that they CANNOT dispute that Obama is lying about 28 of the 50 items on the list. I'm sorry, but if it is VERIFIABLE that a man is lying 56% of the time then in my opinion...the man is a liar, plain and simple.
October 30, 2008
10:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hstowell writes:
thoughtfulcolorado really isn't and just spouting garbage. I used a mail in ballot and the instructions were very clear about who needed to send in a copy of their ID. This was indicated by the color of the stripe on the envelope and also was marked on the ballot itself if a copy of the voter's ID was required. It has nothing to do with Coffman and is a simple failure to follow simple instructions.
October 30, 2008
10:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
blacksho89 writes:
hoilierthanthou: Lincoln was a Republican. Jim Crow South voted Dem until LBJ "betrayed" them by signing the Civil Rights Act.
Sorry to let facts get in the way of your moronic beliefs.
October 30, 2008
10:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
GorillaGrodd writes:
If someone is too stupid to read the instructions, I'm glad their vote won't count.
October 30, 2008
10:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
My husband and I just recently completed our absentee ballots. The instruction very plainly explained that if you were a newly registered voter that had not provided ID, you must include it in your ballot envelope outside of the ballot sleeve. It explained that your vote would be invalidated if ID were not provided and it told you where to look on the envelope to see if ID were required. In fact, if you signed the envelope as instructed, it was stamped right beside where your signature goes.
I find it hard to believe that a 38 year old, college educated school teacher would have difficulty reading the instructions on both his voter registration form which says "Colorado law requires identification at the polls and for first time voters who vote by Mail-in Ballot. Types of approved ID may be found on the Secretary of State's website at http://www.sos.state.co.us. You may also speak to a Secretary of State Election Division representative at (303) 894 - 2200 or you may contact your County Clerk and Recorder's office for information." or the instructions on his Mail-In Ballot. If he did, I would question how he managed to make it through his college classes.
Also, a California drivers license is not an acceptable ID for voting purposes in the state of Colorado, which makes me question this story.
Acceptable forms of ID, according to Colorado law, are
1) Colorado driver’s license
2) CO Dept. of Revenue ID card
3) U.S. passport, Employee ID card with photo issued by the U.S. government, CO state government, or political subdivision of CO
4) Pilot’s license
5) U.S. military ID with photo
6)A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector
7)Medicare or Medicaid card
8)Certified copy of birth certificate
9)Certified documentation of naturalization
GladysKravitz writes - "They should accept all the mail in ballots! Just another effort by the Republican Coffman to suppress votes! He is Colorado's Katherine Harris."
Would you not have us verify the eligibility of voters at all! When a person can register by mail, request Mail-In Ballot and never show any ID of any sort, the system is ripe vote ineligible voters. If no ID is required, anyone could send in a registration form, get a ballot in the mail and vote.
The purpose of IDs is to prove eligibility. The state of Colorado is actually pretty lenient on voter requirements. Three things are required for registration, a physical address, or location in the case of homeless persons, a mailing address which can be a PO Box, and ID which proves residency.
October 30, 2008
11:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
bph writes:
It was a Republican who freed the slaves.
October 30, 2008
11:59 p.m.
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Kukulcan writes:
@ bph
Abraham Lincoln, who abolished the scourge of slavery in America, was indeed a republican.
For this reason, most of the old Confederate states were solid Democrat terrain until the the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 was passed.
That's when the so called "Dixiecrats", Democratic Senators and Congressmen from the south, switched parties and joined the GOP. Law makers such as Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, to name a couple.
Let's also not forget Nixons 1972 "southern strategy" that sought to play on white southern resentments over CIVIL RIGHTS.
Ever since, the GOP has been the party trying to suppress the vote. They usually target "minority" voters in the south or southwest--and this time they appear to have succeed in disenfranchising 35,000 Coloradans...
October 31, 2008
12:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
GorillaGrodd writes:
Kukulcan,
The 35,000 Coloradans disenfranchised themselves...by not following simple directions.
October 31, 2008
12:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Cowboy63 writes:
Good! If you're too stupid to read the directions then you're too stupid to have a say in the election.
READ THE FREAKIN' INSTRUCTIONS!
October 31, 2008
12:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
p_myers661 writes:
Anyone here seriously believe that 35K votes will be the margin in many races or initiative?
Those ballots appear to be scattered all over so even the small races should be safe from manipulation if you think about it. I would think the unions would want to cheat to defeat 47, but the probability of making enough of a difference in anything is quite small.
It's possible, but not probable yet.
Illinois and Chicago are infamous for the old system of ballot box shenanigans. I heard from one person, an old politician laughing about it, that when a state race didn't look good for them they'd put aside a large number of ballots that were not counted and would call it a random inspection. A representative for both parties would examine a ballot then exchange ballots before deciding if they were valid. One provision for invalidating a ballot selection was if there were extra marks on the ballot. There were no pens or pencils in the counting rooms to prevent someone marking up all the "wrong" ballots and getting them shot out. This man was laughing about the fact that the stupid GOP representatives never figured out that every inspector they worked with had a bandaged finger. Inside the finger bandage was a pencil lead! Good for six or seven hundred ballots according to my friend. That was organized and planned for. We are vulnerable to this, but those who might want to do this are not powerful enough or organized enough. Most are fringe groups without any true connections to reality. They could create chaos. The can't, for now, sustain an action long enough to do substantial damage.
A coordinated plan for fraud? Someday if we don't change the ID requirements to something that will connect the person registering to vote with someone who has that right. People will get used to it. Just look up the hysteria created when states decided to put peoples' pictures on the drivers' license. Now we take it for granted. ID requirements for voting will tighten up too.
Worst threat I see here is that some morons are too dumb or lazy to read simple instructions and they are voting and using that brain to help decide who will run the government. Might explain some things/people in politics.
October 31, 2008
1:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
forty5ford writes:
This whole thing is a bunch of b.s. I registered to vote in person at the clerk's office with my brand new Colorado driver's license back in June. I received my mail ballot and rather than risk it getting lost or delivered late I opted to personally drop it off at the office. I go to drop it in the box and three people scurry over to me telling me three different things. It was like who is on first, what is on second and I don't know is on third. Christ almighty! Attempting to cast a vote has become a joke these days. I sense the election will again be decided in a courtroom. Frankly, Canada is sounding more and more attractive every day.
October 31, 2008
4:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
I would say that if Canada is sounding more and more attractive every day then have fun and be sure to give up your US citizenship when you go!
I don't know where all these stories come from. I took my and my husband's ballots to a drop location at one of the license offices and just put them in the drop box. When I walked in and started looking to find where to drop them, every person waiting to get a vehicle license pointed the way to the drop box to me and the half dozen or so people who came in behind me to drop ballots also. No problems.
Again people, no one is suppressing votes here. If instructions concerning IDs are not followed in returning your ballot then the ballot is invalid.
Also, as I stated earlier, the case of the school teacher from California is suspicious anyway in that you cannot use a California driver's license as an ID for voting purposes in Colorado. It does not have to be a picture ID, but it must be on the list of approved IDs as I mentioned last night.
October 31, 2008
4:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
longpasttime writes:
Proving one's identity in order to vote is not a hardship. Let's stop treating it as if it were. There are enough problems with the process without having to worry if a person is legally allowed to vote, and persons trying to do so should be prevented from casting a vote. If all it takes is a picture ID, then so be it!
October 31, 2008
5:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
LOUIE writes:
And so the signed ballot gets purchased from the named holder, gets marked by the puchaser, and sent in, whose the wiser? No more mail in ballots, to easily corruptable, forget the dead voting, watch people being registered to vote, sell their vote for money by signing the ballot off to the purchaser. Indigent, anarchists, so many who don't participate who care less about voting would be great targets to sign up, sign off, and sell their vote. Other than a rat, how could the election officials stop fraud? How many mail ins can you make disappear is another scam, but I'll leave that for another day. No more private companies handling voting functions such as mailing the mail in ballot either. I don't furnish my private information lawfully compliant to the government to be farmed out to private enterprise to have. Bad things like ID theft happen when our government gets loose with infermation releasing it to non-government agencies. I want the mechanical machine, pinching the card, after proper ID is presented by the voter, as Mail In voting is too suseptible to being corrupted. Just a thought...
October 31, 2008
5:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Denverboy1 writes:
Shaggy........
The Extra ID would go the GOP way...not the DEM.. It's a clever way for Colorado with long history of RED voting not to count the thousands of people going out to vote who are fed up with Bush and his merry band of IT"S ALL ABOUT THE RICH AND POWERFUL........They simply dont want to face the facts that 68% of new voters are.......BLUE....and they dont want to count them....
October 31, 2008
6:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
NavyChief writes:
I had to provide a copy of my military ID card when I first cast an absentee vote years ago. As others have stated, the instructions to do so were printed in plain sight on the back of the envelope next to the signature box. Only a moron could miss it.
I have another question for the guy from California. WHY DON"T YOU HAVE A COLORADO DRIVER"S LICENSE???? Used to be, when someone moved out to Colorado and made it their permanent home, they had 30 days to get a Colorado License. So, why doesn't he have one? Too difficult to read the laws? Too busy to take a little time off? Just don't care?
If keeping the California license is so important to him, then he should move back there. One thing for sure, we sure won't miss a California transplant. We've got a couple million to spare.
October 31, 2008
6:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Over_Nobama writes:
IT must be another evil Republican plan to ENFORCE THE LAW and ensure only those who are legally eligible to vote do so. How dare they
October 31, 2008
7:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
EXrepublican writes:
is it not telling that when a homeless citizen registers to vote using a homeless shelter, republicans charge voter fraud as 200 other homeless people use the same address.
then that single homeless person uses the address of a park bench republicans charge fraud.
never mind the thousand or so who use the one single address, because they are hiding from an abusive spouse.
Different ballots say different things regarding a suitable address, or Identification verification.
sadly uniform interpretation of the law is a misnomer with mike coffamn.
October 31, 2008
7:24 a.m.
Suggest removal
tjason11 writes:
For all of you arguing over this, every county has different envelopes and different instructions. I am a first time voter, college educated for all you naysayers and yes I can read, and my ballot instructions specified that if you need to include a copy of your license, above the signature line you will see "Copy of ID required". My envelope DID NOT say that, but I happened to notice above the return address section a little note in very small font that stated "ID req". So I included it just to be safe. Because elections are run by each county/city things will always be different.
October 31, 2008
7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
RJS07 writes:
Is it just that Dems are too stupid to provide ID? They are the ones that always complain about having to do so, either in person or any other way. You have to have ID to give blood, see the Dr, cash a check, use a credit card, rent a movie, pick up your food stamps and your welfare check, etc. etc. etc. Yet if you say that someone has to prove that they are eligible to vote, using an ID, that is suppressing the vote. I'd say, it's suppressing election fraud. And THAT is why the Dems apparently don't like it...no truly thinking person can say that proving you are who you say you are can be a bad thing. Unless of course, you have some other agenda.
October 31, 2008
8:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
Elwood writes:
I hope Mr. Haynes' ballot is rejected. He put a copy of his CALIFORNIA license in with his ballot. If he hasn't bothered to get a new license from Colorado (been here since August), he obviously doesn't care that much about his civic responsibilities.
October 31, 2008
8:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
peter303 writes:
Probably bad news for Obama since most young new voters support him. Coffman's second big gaff in week sounds partison to me.
October 31, 2008
8:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
youngman writes:
my mail in ballot said..and it was written...if its red send in the copy of your ID....and it lists the ID types....so what this really is dumb people who really should not be voting if they are that dumb to follow the directions....voting is a privledge..not a right...
October 31, 2008
8:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
BigSky182 writes:
Cowboy63 writes:
Good! If you're too stupid to read the directions then you're too stupid to have a say in the election.
READ THE FREAKIN' INSTRUCTIONS!
------------------------------------------------------
BigSky stands and cheers!!!
October 31, 2008
8:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
Heidi writes:
A standing ovation!
October 31, 2008
9:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
jbowen43 writes:
Why on earth would a clerk send out a mail in ballot to an unverified registrant? Seems to me the clerks are going out of their way to disqualify ballots. Everything Coffman is connected to stinks. This is Democracy?
October 31, 2008
9:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
UNV_ME writes:
I agree as well. New voters especially should be very concerned about the instructions. How could you over look them?
October 31, 2008
9:25 a.m.
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Reason writes:
But...but.bu..teh CONSPIRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 31, 2008
9:33 a.m.
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Heidi writes:
If this was really a conspiracy, would the CO Secretary of State report this information and warn that they may have to throw away ballots?? I believe that this is an effort to make people aware to follow instructions so that their vote may be counted.
October 31, 2008
9:34 a.m.
Suggest removal
Citizen21 writes:
Voting is a privilege, and the US has one of the lowest turnouts of countries with voting. With all the questions being rasied on the ballots, I'm going to vote - in person - on election day.
Mail-in ballots should not be allowed for an election period. There are too many ways to supply fraudulent votes this way. And, you do get conflicting answers when you ask the volunteers what is required. Mail-in ballots are a mess! Vote in person, the best way to ensure your vote is counted.
October 31, 2008
9:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
jonmg111 writes:
Its not complicated. When I was first eligble to vote 4 years ago, I voted by mail and followed the simple instructions of including my photo ID which was clearly stated that I needed to include it. If you can't do something that simple, you are a moron.
October 31, 2008
9:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
Citizen21 writes:
Oh...and with all the ID theft ocurring, do you really want to photocopy your ID and mail it? Not so secure...hmmm.
October 31, 2008
9:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
EXrepublican writes:
"is it not telling that when a homeless citizen registers to vote using a homeless shelter, republicans charge voter fraud as 200 other homeless people use the same address.
then that single homeless person uses the address of a park bench republicans charge fraud.
never mind the thousand or so who use the one single address, because they are hiding from an abusive spouse.
Different ballots say different things regarding a suitable address, or Identification verification.
sadly uniform interpretation of the law is a misnomer with mike coffamn."
Do you have proof of all this? I think not. The fact of the matter is, if people bother to learn the voter registration laws at all, the state of Colorado specifically addresses how homeless people may register to vote. They may register any physical location at which they can on a normal basis be found, such as a specific park bench, shelter, under a bridge, etc. The only other requirement which is that they, just like all other registered voters in Colorado, must have a mailing address, which can be a PO Box, and an ID proving residency.
If someone is being accused of voter fraud, then it must be that they have not complied with one or more of the three requirements for registration.
October 31, 2008
10:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
JustSayin writes:
"the man is a liar, plain and simple" - the man is a politician, just like McCain, just like Biden, just like Palin. A pox on both your parties.
October 31, 2008
10:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
NavyChief writes:
"I had to provide a copy of my military ID card when I first cast an absentee vote years ago. As others have stated, the instructions to do so were printed in plain sight on the back of the envelope next to the signature box. Only a moron could miss it.
I have another question for the guy from California. WHY DON"T YOU HAVE A COLORADO DRIVER"S LICENSE???? Used to be, when someone moved out to Colorado and made it their permanent home, they had 30 days to get a Colorado License. So, why doesn't he have one? Too difficult to read the laws? Too busy to take a little time off? Just don't care?
If keeping the California license is so important to him, then he should move back there. One thing for sure, we sure won't miss a California transplant. We've got a couple million to spare."
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I am pretty partial to the navy myself as my son is a Petty Officer 2nd Class and based in San Diego.
As I have said on previous posts, I am skeptical of this particular story as a California driver's license is not even a valid ID for the purpose of voter registration and voting. Mr. Haynes should have been required to show another form of acceptable ID, if this happened at all.
You are, also, right in that he should have a Colorado driver's license. If he is teaching school in Brighton, Colorado law required him to get a Colorado driver's license upon getting a job.
The law says that if you are a Colorado resident who operates a motor vehicle or motorcycle on public streets and highways in Colorado, you must have the appropriate valid driver's license. A resident is defined as a citizen who has lived in Colorado for 90 continuous days; or upon becoming employed, whichever occurs first. If you are not a Colorado resident you can not be issued a Colorado license or (ID card for that matter).
October 31, 2008
10:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
People can't follow instructions because they can't read, or understand English ! I saw it first hand at the DMV yesterday.
A man who couldn't understand English had to have step by step
instructions to put the ballot in the secrecy sleeve where you sign on the envelope, etc, etc........How many more like him are there ?
October 31, 2008
10:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
navymom writes:
jbowen43 writes: "Why on earth would a clerk send out a mail in ballot to an unverified registrant? Seems to me the clerks are going out of their way to disqualify ballots. Everything Coffman is connected to stinks. This is Democracy?"
When people mail a voter registration in to the state or their county it is unverified until they provide one of the approved IDs, either at the polling place or by placing a copy in with their first Mail-In Ballot. The clerks are simply doing their jobs.
BTW, for all of you right wing conspiracy people, Karen Long, the Adams County Clerk of Court, is a democrat. So if you are trying to blame the Clerk of Court for suppressing votes, you are blaming your own party. Don't believe me; here is the link to the 2006 ballot for Adams County (http://www.northglenn.org/WEB-PDF/not...). Scroll to the bottom of the ballot and you will see she was the democrat running for county clerk.
October 31, 2008
11:02 a.m.
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INC writes:
youngman writes:
"voting is a privledge..not a right..."
ok "privilege". is the correct spelling
and voting is a Right. the belief that it is a privilege is neo-con republican nonthinking to the core.
as republicans would like to deny almost everyone their privileges and rights.
the only time your RIGHT to vote can be denied, is if you are a felon in jail or on parole.
October 31, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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KatieFleming writes:
Every eligible citizen has the right to cast a ballot in this country and we have to protect this right. Join www.JustVoteColorado.org in Protecting the Vote. As a nonpartisan program that is not affiliated with any candidate or issue, we are in a great position to be a resource for voters before and on Election Day.
If you have any questions AT ALL about the voting process, your experience, your rights, or have problems to report, call 1-866 OUR VOTE or visit www.JustVoteColorado.org.
October 31, 2008
11:13 a.m.
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Stan_Weekes writes:
Why would one want to register to vote on the street, with someone who isn't an official, give them vital info and not even know if it will actually be filed?
If you are really serious about the process, wouldn't it make sense to take the time to go to the Clerk & Recorders office, provide the Secure & Verifiable ID, make certain the application was properly filled out, and clarify any questions on the spot?
And if you wanted to make sure your ballot was cast, go to the polling location on Election Day, handle everything necessary, and put the paperwork in the box yourself?
I'm sure some folks would like a drive through voting booth; the one-stop shopping--burger/fries, back rub and vote. Maybe even come to my house, explain everything, help me figure out the issues, and take the ballot to be counted. Now!
Proof of Citizenship to Register------- Photo ID to Vote
Let's make sure every qualified vote counts.
Too bad the rules disrupt the 'feelings' >>> hah!
October 31, 2008
11:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
Macita183 writes:
On my mail in ballot it stated if you needed to include id it would say so on the inside of the envelope. I think too many people rush through the process, not reading the directions, and then complaining after it's been done wrong. If you aren't bothering to thoroughly read the instructions perhaps she shouldn't be voting.
October 31, 2008
11:16 a.m.
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Diff writes:
We desperately need some election system and balloting reform in the whole country - with an easy to confirm, count and recount PAPER TRAIL!
Maybe we need Jimmy Carter to do Election watching in this country!
October 31, 2008
11:30 a.m.
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BigSky182 writes:
INC writes:
"the only time your RIGHT to vote can be denied, is if you are a felon in jail or on parole."
-------------------------------------------------------------
Or you aren't an American Citizen in the first place... or you already voted in a different State/County, or you are not a legal residence of the precinct in which you are trying to vote.
October 31, 2008
12:04 p.m.
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watcher1 writes:
I got bumped last election simply because my (photo) Colorado drivers license had expired two weeks earlier, I was not a new voter either. I had put considerable time and effort to understanding the many referendums of the election.... all for nothing.
These problems are the "work" of both parties.
October 31, 2008
12:14 p.m.
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jay writes:
whose incompetence do we have to blame for this fiasco?
October 31, 2008
12:16 p.m.
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realitylives writes:
According to an article in the NYT today online "Colorado Agrees To Restore Voters to Roll" (free online, access through political section in margin), this has been outlawed by the courts.
Scripp's is engaging in ILLEGAL VOTER INTERFERENCE. This article will only encourage people to not vote. VOTING IS A RIGHT.
Call the Denver ACLU at 303-777-5402 after reading the NYT article and report SCRIPPS.
Don't believe this article. Vote and insist on it. Have your required ID.
DON'T LET THE NEOCONS AND REPUGS STEAL A THIRD ELECTION.
October 31, 2008
12:24 p.m.
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ghoax writes:
aghast, you mean 35,000 newly registered democrats couldn't read the instructions? Imagine that, I'll bet that postage thing was tough too.
I guess we'll just have to look forward to the new democrat home voter assistance program designed so that these people can get help with reading the instructions and make sure they vote the right way right?
If you're still struggling, try reading the instructions, then you'll have to find a copier at a place like Kinko's or Office Depot and be sure to ask for assistance so you copy the right side of your identification.
October 31, 2008
12:38 p.m.
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windbourne writes:
>>have never in my 42 yrs of life seen such a corrupt and Liberal controlled election.
I always have to laugh at you neo-cons. First, the secretary of state office that controls the election is controlled by who? A pub.
But I find that you neo-cons always put the blame on any other group but yourself while trying hard to take credit for what is not deserved.
For example, during reagans time, the deficit balloned. But the pubs said that dem congress was to blame. Ok, Then along comes Poppa Bush. He ran it up for 3 years, but turned it in his last year with a democrat congress. Who do you say gets credit? the pub pres. Ok. Then along comes clinton. He CONTINUES the downward turn during his entire time. But for the first 2 years, he had the same dem congress that reagan and Poppa had. Yet, you neo-cons then claim that 6 years of republican congress was to get all credit. Ok.
So, then we have total neo-con congress and white house. what happens? THE GREATEST DEBT THAT AMERICA HAS EVER HAD. And who is to blame? less than 1.5 year of dem congress.
Ppl like you need to learn to be a man and take the blame where you deserve it and learn to give the credit where it belongs.
Shaggy, learn to be a man. You obviously are not much of one.
You neo-cons are finished. God bless America, and thanx.
October 31, 2008
12:46 p.m.
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GILPINMAN writes:
If they didn't have requirements for identification I personaly would have voted 35,000 times, so with with my wife also that would be 70,000 votes just for the two of us. I would have had my computer fill in those boxes instead of taking pride in the fact that I spent the time to do it by hand with my new grey pen.
October 31, 2008
12:59 p.m.
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BigSky182 writes:
windbourne writes:
"Shaggy, learn to be a man. You obviously are not much of one."
Why does it seem that the majority of Liberals cannot make a point in any kind of debate with personally attacking and/or degrading the other person?
October 31, 2008
1:09 p.m.
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HankReardon writes:
I beleive this affects dems, repubs and thirds. It doesn't say just one group was affected. So why am I hearing the usual snickering hate from the neo-cons. Just a habit, I guess.
October 31, 2008
1:35 p.m.
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jay writes:
is this sec of state that is responsible for this fiasco running for an office this year?
who is it?
October 31, 2008
1:36 p.m.
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navymom writes:
watcher1 writes: "I got bumped last election simply because my (photo) Colorado drivers license had expired two weeks earlier, I was not a new voter either. I had put considerable time and effort to understanding the many referendums of the election.... all for nothing.
These problems are the "work" of both parties."
Did you drive to the polls last year with your "expired driver's license"? An expired license is no longer a valid ID for anything from writing a check to voting.
You could have voted simply by showing one of the other forms of ID which I have listed on this forum. Do you pay utilities, get a paycheck in Colorado, have a bank account? Do you have a birth certificate? Utilities bills in your name, paystubs, bank statements and birth certificates are acceptable forms of ID and as an "informed voter", you should have known.
October 31, 2008
1:43 p.m.
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Elwood writes:
Want to hear whinning? Wait untiil McCain wins the presidential election.
October 31, 2008
1:53 p.m.
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BigSky182 writes:
watcher1 writes: "I got bumped last election simply because my (photo) Colorado drivers license had expired two weeks earlier"
In addition to all of the laternate forms of ID listed my Navy Mom, you also had the option of checking your stupid driver's license prior to trying to use it as ID.
I rather strongly suspect that you were perfectly well aware that it had expired (they do expire on one's birthday after all) and yet you couldn't be bothered with renewing it in time to vote.
Exactly how is that anyone's fault but yours?
October 31, 2008
2:58 p.m.
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Not_Alike94 writes:
I know if anyone tells me to give a SSN or ID I am suspicious as I have been a victim of identity theft before. I REGISTERED to vote when I obtained my drivers license. So I would question why do you need it AGAIN....MY mail-in ballot did NOT state FIRST TIME VOTER include an ID it stated to look at the colored strip on the letter to determine if I needed an ID or not so yes it is conflicting(to this story). I'm not a first time voter.... and I can read.
If you think a person whom is homeless has no right to vote then I guess they have no right to work as well huh?? But then who should pay for them... you guys take everything and make it what you want it to be. No wonder the world is the way it is today. Every vote should count regardless. I don't think McCain is a bad person or racist. But I also feel if he wins he will not live to finish a 4 year term. I will not have Palin in charge of my rights. Read snopes on her... you want to hear lies...So I will vote for Obama...
October 31, 2008
5:58 p.m.
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jfkdem47 writes:
There won't be a winner in this election. There is so much evidence of outright fraud and questionable voting processes, that we will never know who really won.
From this outfit ACORN and their outrageously corrupt activities to poor instructions given to voters, we might as well just flip a coin. The outcome will be more accurate.
October 31, 2008
5:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
daRock writes:
I am a Denver election judge supervisor.
The election commissions from every county are working hard to have a smooth election on Tuesday. These people are a mix of Democrats and Republicans.
Those bashing Coffman are either partisan hacks or paranoid. There are numerous levels to determine proper registration and voting. He is an honest man and is not operating out of spite, or without oversite. No one individual at any level can disenfranchise a block of voters.
Those working the polls are neighbors of yours and citizens just like you. They are being paid a small amount for a 14 hour day and are not professional poll workers. Each polling location will have workers from each major party.
The instructions to all of the election judges are to assist people in their voting. NOT to prevent anyone from voting. If there is a question about eligibility a voter will be allowed to vote with a provisional ballot. Period. Their eligibility will be determined by the election commission.
There is a lengthy list of acceptable ID's as has been posted earlier in this thread. Drivers licenses are not going to be scrutinized for expiration dates or correct addresses.
For those that neglected to check an appropriate box on their registration form, they will be allowed to correct it at the polling place and vote a non-provisional ballot. (I only speak for Denver).
There are some flaws in the system, but as Americans we should all be thankful that we have the right to vote. Many in the world do not.
October 31, 2008
6:11 p.m.
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jfkdem47 writes:
daRock,
Thank you for your service. The good news is that 99% of Americans know it's not the people working at the polls that is the problem.
The problem is that too many people (like many on these boards) are so blinded by their hatred for people who are in other political parties that they will do anything to win.
That's why we end up with groups doing illegal actions to corrupt the outcome. These groups that will bribe people to vote, fake registration forms, pretend to be people they are not so they can vote multiple times, and so on.
Americans know that it's not the people trying to hold honest elections. It's those so driven by hate and so desperate for their guy to win that they are willing to corrupt the entire process to get their way.
Until Americans start putting these degenerates in their place, we'll be stuck with the same questionable outcomes. Not because of the poll workers, but because of the haters who are willing to do anything to win.
October 31, 2008
6:30 p.m.
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bioteacher writes:
To answer navy mom who assumes a ton of information:
I am a Colorado native not a transplant. I was out there for a few years taking care of a dying relative (my wife's grandmother a navy widow) I moved back in August.
Regarding your inference regarding my not caring or having time/not complying with the law regarding a driver's license. I bike to work.
Also, I did have alternate identification with me when I went to the DMV to drop off the ballot. I had my district issued ID badge, which would work for id (A valid employee identification with a photograph issued by the U.S. Government, Colorado state government, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of the state;)
The reason I contacted the news is because when I dropped off my ballot the DMV official wanted my California ID instead. I even offered to return the next day with a utility bill, but she insisted on using my out of state license instead.
I pushed the point and questioned the DMV official about this since I clearly knew that this wasn't considered a valid id form based on the state website and had her copy my school id as well.
Another reason I contacted the Rocky is because the green secrecy sleeve included with the ballot information clearly stated that if the voter was required to provide additional identification (I submitted identification when I registered) a statement in bold red would be clearly printed in red above the affidavit line on the ballot envelope.
There was no such information printed on my official ballot envelope directing me to provide additional proof. Only a red edge to the envelope.
Finally, when I questioned the county clerk's office they admitted that had been a problem with their ballot envelope markings requiring additional proof. When I explained everything and asked if my ballot would be counted or not, the answer given by the official voter information line at the Adams County Clerk's office was "probably." Not very reassuring.
October 31, 2008
8:44 p.m.
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Stan_Weekes writes:
Thank you daRock!
Partisan politics has no place in the VOTE. Neutrality Please.
And in most cases, although the parties are deeply involved, they are watching for all the problems. Certain systems have to be put in place to prevent fraud; those are neutral and color blind, with all based on facts, not beliefs. Whining about things that are in your purview just doesn't cut it.
And thank you Myung for another great article. You're doing some fine reporting on complicated issues!
November 1, 2008
1:02 a.m.
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seanana writes:
For those of you that say the voters that can't read or follow instructions...
I am one of the people in the story. I am a college graduate and consider myself very intelligent. The instructions on my ballot clearly stated that if the words "Copy of ID Required" appear above the signature box on the outside of the envelope then I need to include a copy of my ID. My envelope did NOT have these words anywhere on my envelope. My envelope, however, DID have a red corner... which was NOT referenced in the instructions for my ballot.
If I had not dropped my ballot off at the Motor Vehicle office my vote would not have counted. The woman taking my ballot noticed the red corner and asked me if I had included a copy of my ID, as she was instructed that every envelope with a red corner needs one.
The posters that blame the voters for not being able to read and follow instructions and do not deserve to have their vote counted should have THEIR votes nullified for lacking the reading comprehension of this article. He CLEARLY states what happened, and it is NOT the voters fault.
November 2, 2008
8:50 a.m.
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navymom writes:
seanana, I am very capable of reading the article and comprehending the article. In fact, my comprehension scores have always been extremely high. I can deduce from your post and the article that you must be Shawn.
If you had read my post from 10/30/08, you would know that I said the teacher in the article should have known from his voter registration form that ID was required as it specifically states that ID is required from everyone at the polls and first time voters who vote by mail-in ballot. The voter registration form, also, instructs the voter on the many avenues for determining acceptable forms of ID, one of which is not a California driver's license.
In fact, everyone who read the instructions for the voter registration form should have been aware of that fact. If a person has a question about whether or not their ID is required to be included with a ballot, it is never wrong to err on the side of caution and include a copy of an acceptable form of ID in the envelope.
I personally believe that every person should have to register in person, as many do when they apply for a Colorado driver's license, so that IDs can be checked at the time of registration.