Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Colorado GOP, fearing deception, checks addresses

By Ashleigh Oldland, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

Text size  

More Elections

More stories »

Allegations of fraudulent voter registrations in El Paso County have prompted the state Republican Party to begin looking into nearly 500 statewide addresses where 10 or more people have registered.

Party volunteers have started checking the list of residences, homeless shelters, nursing homes, rehab centers and college dormitories to confirm registrations are legitimate.

"We are concerned that folks are fraudulently registering to vote with absentee ballots," said Ryan Call, a lawyer for the GOP. "Most of all, we are concerned with the integrity of the vote. Every vote should be a legal vote."

Call said the investigation will determine the validity of the voters at those addresses and check to see that the addresses listed are not just vacant lots.

The St. Francis Center, a daytime refuge for Denver's homeless, tops the list with 1,263 registrations, the most at a single Colorado address.

Andrew Spinks, department director for the center, says 1,263 is not a surprising number of registrants. "We see more than 10,000 different people a year and 500 to 700 different people every day," Spinks said. "In a mathematical perspective, 1,263 is a small amount."

Spinks said the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless has been at the center, working to register new voters.

The Gathering Place, a daytime refuge for women and children, has 190 voters listing the facility as their address.

"The number is pretty accurate," said Denny Thompson, director of communications for the Gathering Place.

Call said the party is concerned with the volume and aggressiveness of voter registration this election cycle.

"I haven't seen a registration as aggressive as this," Call said. "Voter registration needs to be done with integrity."

Matt Farrauto, spokesman for the state Democratic Party, criticized the Republicans.

"Why is the Republican Party so focused on matters not pertaining to the economic crisis, the lack of affordable health care and our country's dependence on foreign oil and so focused on finding people they can prevent from voting?" he said.

oldlanda@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5624

Comments

  • September 25, 2008

    4:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Brian1973 writes:

    I do like the deomcrat response..... why make sure the votes being cast are not fraudulant?

    Personally I'll give the GOP .05% increase in respect for at looking into the issue

  • September 25, 2008

    5:17 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    The GOP is looking for any reason to prevent people from Voting. they have already sent out false information in regards to Students ability to vote... specifically opposite of state statute...

    State statute states clearly that if a student is a resident for 30 days prior to election day they are eligible to vote.

    http://www.coloradopols.com/showDiary...

    another is SOS mike coffmans apparent attention to details...

    From the above Colorado pols...
    "On the Voter Registration Drive forms there is a a place for the Colorado Driver's License (or ID) or the person's last 4 of their social security number if they do not have a Colorado license (or ID). There is also a box to mark that says "I do not have a Colorado Driver's License..."

    PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING PEOPLE EITHER GIVE A COLORADO ID NUMBER OR MARK THE BOX!

    Two weeks ago the Secretary of State sent out a memo reminding County Clerks that they are bot to register new voters who do not do one of those two things. If they only give their last 4 of their SSN and do not mark the box they will sent another registration form to fill out. In Denver we have recently seen several hundred new voter registrations rejected due to this rule!"

    I bet if the box is not checked, but the party affiliation is republican, the original form gets processed.

    ANYONE? anyone? willing to take that bet?

  • September 25, 2008

    6:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Teddy writes:

    There was a time when you had to own land to vote. Now, if the Democrats have there way, you can vote even if you are homeless.

  • September 25, 2008

    6:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    INC writes:

    Teddy
    Darn straight! even if you have been Foreclosed upon, or never owned a home.
    Do you not think Every Citizen has the right to vote?
    or choose not to?

    Disenfranchising is WRONG any way you slice it.

  • September 25, 2008

    7 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    NeilT writes:

    Jackhole comment of the day: "There was a time when you had to own land to vote. Now, if the Democrats have there way, you can vote even if you are homeless."

    Teddy just gave all the other idiots a free pass for the day. No matter how stupid the comments today, they can't possibly top this one.

  • September 25, 2008

    8:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mojambo writes:

    Really going out on a limb there, aren't ya!

    Sure, I'll take that bet. If you can confirm 1) that happened and 2) that it never happened with a Dem app.

    Good luck with that....

  • September 25, 2008

    9:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    blacksho89 writes:

    INC:
    Paranoid much?

  • September 25, 2008

    9:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cwillyrun1 writes:

    Why are the Democrats questioning checking voting integrity? Didn't they make it the biggest issue of all in the 2000 race between Bush and Gore? Matt Farrauto.... selective memory or are you just that dumb?

  • September 25, 2008

    9:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    mytwosense writes:

    The GOP is up to their usual trick of voter list scrubbing. Vile.

  • September 25, 2008

    10:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mayor_Quimby writes:

    "Do you not think Every Citizen has the right to vote?"

    Where in the constitution or DOI do people have the RIGHT to vote? Why dont you read something other than the loony toons left wing blogs and news outlets and read a book. Typical liberal moron.

  • September 25, 2008

    10:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ron65ron writes:

    Remember, some areas are not using computer voting machines, so the GOP needs to find ways to cancel out people's votes so they win. Just another dirty tactic, since they can no longer "buy" the election like Bush did.

  • September 25, 2008

    10:26 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Stan_Weekes writes:

    There are millions in this country and hundreds of thousands in Colorado who are not entitled to vote. They are not Citizens!
    Just because you are a warm body does not give you that right. Plus, you have to have an address, a Valid CO ID or SS#. You do not have a human right to vote anywhere in the world. Just as you do not have a human right to drive. There is a legal process, determined by the Citizens, that needs checks and balances.

    Why? Because there are many who are scamming our systems to gain power and money. The gates are not open to the world to come here and 'use' folks who have worked hard to provide us the vitality we have created. The scab labor, who have crossed our picket line, the border, do not have the right to decide that they should qualify by mere presence.

    Simply put, the foundational database of who gets counted needs to be secured against those who would abuse it.

  • September 25, 2008

    11:46 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    chickenlittle1234 writes:

    Why am I not surprised that it's Colorado Springs Republicans that are behind this. I see so many anti-Boulder posts (some of which are merited, especially those regarding the many Barney Fifes on the police force), but the reality is that the stories out of Colorado Springs are far more disturbing.

  • September 25, 2008

    1:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Sensible writes:

    Fat folks get to vote twice. Really fat folks get to vote 10 times.

    I like it!

    But.... that means I only get to vet once.

    I don't like it!