Wave of new Colorado voters registered
By Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published September 30, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
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Photo by Brian Lehmann / The Rocky
Hoping to register a new voter, Terry Baccus, left, talks to Zach Utley, 26, near the 30th and Downing transit station on Monday.
Terry Baccus stood with his clipboard at the 30th and Downing transit station. Wearing jeans and a red T-shirt that said, "Raise your voice! Raise the vote! Raise the wage!" the 27-year-old asked a group of passengers whether they'd registered to vote.
About 10 people said they already were signed up or were too young. Then Baccus found 18- year-old Jo Nassia Martin, of Aurora. Martin filled out the registration form and checked the Democratic circle.
She said she wanted to vote "because everybody's opinion is very important . . . I might as well make it count for my generation."
New voters like Martin are signing up in droves in Colorado and across the country. Voter registration drives mounted by parties and interest groups are a huge factor in that surge.
Statewide, nearly 215,000 people between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1 registered as a new voter or because they moved to a different county, according to Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies in Louisville.
That's 26,000 more than in the same period in 2004.
Of those newly registered voters, 78,013 are Democrats, compared with 48,451 Republicans. New unaffiliated voters outnumber both major parties, with 85,795 registrations during that eight-month period, according to the political consulting firm.
More than 40 percent of new voters are opting for mail ballots.
Baccus works for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, one of nearly 300 groups in Colorado mounting voter drives before the Oct. 6 registration deadline for the Nov. 4 election.
Minorities targeted
ACORN is second only to the Campaign for Change - the Barack Obama voter registration campaign - as the most active in Colorado.
ACORN targets minority communities and has submitted more than 65,000 voter forms, including first-time voters and already registered voters who are updating their information or requesting a mail ballot, said state director Ben Hanna.
The Obama campaign won't say how many voters it has signed up, but has obtained 100,000 forms - far more than any other voter drive group - from the secretary of state.
Pat Waak, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, attributes the high voter registrations to enthusiasm about the presidential race.
"I think it's much more intense than we've ever done before because we're a battleground state, and the sheer number of people who are coming out to work on these campaigns means we are able to do a lot more work on voter registration than we have done in the past," Waak said.
The McCain campaign, working in concert with the Republican Party, also has been working to sign up voters.
"We're registering (voters) in a very targeted way, making sure we're using our resources the best we can," said Tom Kise, regional campaign spokesman.
Kise said the campaign is using a variety of lists to find new residents and young voters and others who are likely to support John McCain.
No official complaints
He said that Republicans still outnumber other parties in total voter numbers in Colorado.
The Republican Party has been critical of the practices of some voter registration drive groups, like ACORN.
But Hanna said his organization has improved its quality control to make sure workers are turning in legitimate forms.
The secretary of state's office has received no official complaints about registration drives.
Denise Lieberman, a voter protection lawyer with the national civil rights group Advancement Project, said she is more concerned about the backlog of voter forms at the local election offices than allegations of fraud.
"The more likely and more disturbing trend is the potential of eligible voters not being placed on the rolls, either due to backlogs or error," she said.
Some county clerks say they are swamped with forms and are adding staff and work hours.
Key election dates
* Oct. 6: Voter registration deadline
* Oct. 20 to 31: Early voting at designated polling places
* Oct. 28: Deadline for registered voters to request a mail ballot
* Nov. 4: Election Day
* Voters who sign up through a registration drive should keep the stub from their form and take it to the polls. That way they can vote if not on the voter list.
* Voters also should check their registration status. Information: govotecolorado.com or by calling the secretary of state's office at 303-894-2200.
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September 30, 2008
5:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
diggtbks writes:
Uh-bama's ties to ACORN, since 1980's, goes back to his days as lead organizer of the Developing Communities Project, a campaign funded by Chicago’s south-side Catholic churches and formed on the organizing principles of Saul Alinsky (author of two books, Reveille for Radicals and Rules for Radicals).
ACORN is also founded on Alinsky's principles. Their mission is to seek political power by any means necessary.
I bet Uh-bama's buddy William Ayres believes in the same ideals except he is a little more violent.
Google these three items:
- ACORN blamed for Florida voter fraud
- ACORN was to receive 20% of the recoop monies from the 700 Billion bailout.
- Obama ties to ACORN
Uh-bama ties with ACORN consisted of
- personal training for future ACORN leaders in Chicago when Madeleine Talbot was a leader at Chicago Acorn
- legal representation on issues specific to ACORN's agenda in Chicago such as Acorn’s “motor voter” case in 1995 whereby voters can register to vote at places where drivers licenses are issued
September 30, 2008
6:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
angryrepublican writes:
It is about time we see large numbers register. Now comes the responsible part,actually voting. I hope every voter drops party affiliation and votes for the guy who will protect the middle class. NO MCPAIN!!!!!!!!
September 30, 2008
6:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
And, of course, thanks to the Democrat state house, in Colorado, those registering to vote don't have to prove citizenship. This is as bad as the days when Tammany Hall (also Democrats) in New York used to register the immigrants coming off the boats. Citizens, if you don't throw these rascals out of office, you deserve what you get. Mike
September 30, 2008
6:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
ACORN is a corrupt organization. Every voter registration name should be checked and verified. They are being investigated in about 13 states for voter fraud.
September 30, 2008
8:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
Make sure you are registered to vote here...
http://www.sos.state.co.us/Voter/vote...
if not then obtain a Voter registration Form here...
http://www.elections.colorado.gov/WWW...
BOTH are from the Secretary of States office...
Follow the instructions be sure to provide a State ID number or your Social Security number. (for verification of citizenship)
Sign it, then mail it or take it directly to the County clerk of the county you live in. The address of all the Colorado county clerks in on he second page.
Deadline to get it into the clerk is OCT 6!
Obama/Biden '08
September 30, 2008
8:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Bagel writes:
Down with the two party system.
Bob Barr '08
September 30, 2008
8:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
oh and to obtain an absentee Ballot to avoid waiting in line. fill ouy the absentee section on the Voter registration form...
http://www.elections.colorado.gov/WWW...
Obama/Biden '08
September 30, 2008
8:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
danirobi writes:
Lets make sure those voters are legal and not registered under ACORN who is facing Federal investigations for voter fraud.
BTW, Obama BIG supporter of ACORN
September 30, 2008
8:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
FCZ writes:
ACORN is a very corrupt organization.
Obama did work for them earlier and now ACORN works for him now.
The bail-out bill had potential taxpayer money in it for ACORN.
September 30, 2008
8:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
rushrulesbaby writes:
Can anyone say A-C-O-R-N (Another Corrupt Organization Reaching Noneligible) voters?
September 30, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
psu96 writes:
Solomon,
do you have an original thought or are you reading the talking points again?
some of you sound more anti-obama than pro mccain...typical spin
September 30, 2008
9:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
danirobi ,FCZ,Solomon,rushrulesbaby,
I am gleeful in pointing out that ON THE FORM ITSELF is a place to verify your citizenship status. BY providing a State ID or Drivers license number, and/or your Social security number.
If a non citizen gets to vote it is because of the failure of the republican SOS.
Just because all of you feel that Voting should be only for white land owning males. Does not mean it is so.
I do realize your fear of voters that my vote Democratic.
Tough.
as if republicans governed fairly and effectively, you would not have anything to fear.
Obama/Biden '08
(Democrats)
September 30, 2008
9:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
benn writes:
It's funny the repubs on this thread are scared of voter fraud... probably don't want to talk about the '00 and '04 elections however.
September 30, 2008
9:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
danirobi writes:
INC- Explain to me why ACORN is under FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FOR VOTER FRAUD???? In 2000, the Democratic party was registering people in jail to vote, something called votes for cigs if I remember correctly. Not to mention all the legals running wild in San Francisco. Whose district is that again, oh thats right the WORST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE!
September 30, 2008
9:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
benn, Bless you!!!
I second!
any neo-con takers???
again the form to get in by OCT 6!
http://www.elections.colorado.gov/WWW...
September 30, 2008
9:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
fastnloose writes:
Make sure we sign up as many 18 year olds as possible,they have such a deep understanding of todays issues.Hopefully they will put down their cell phones and turn off the I-Pods long enough to vote.
September 30, 2008
9:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
danirobi,
ACORN is only under investigation from republicans afraid of loosing power.
How about the investigations of sarah palin for abuse of power?
or Gonzalez under investigation for using political affiliation to deny Jobs to qualified persons at Justice?
Felons is Florida have the right to vote.
misdemeanors have the right to vote, (even in jail)
Homeless have the right to vote
naturalized citizens have the right to vote.
and women have only had the right to vote for less than 100 years.
you would be a Democrat if women still did not have the right to vote.
My favorite is terminally Ill patients have the right to vote. so if they vote early and die before election day, their vote STILL COUNTS!!!
Every Citizen has the right to vote. no question about it.
September 30, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
So danrobi you too would screw the country because you were personally offended by Pilosi?
Real Patriotism there...
Own up to the republican depression you are inflicting upon the country. Own up to republican incompetence! then you can argue.
Vote out republicans!!!
Vote for
Obama/Biden '08
(Democrats)
September 30, 2008
9:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
T208 writes:
· This November, we are voting on whether we want to be under a socialist or democratic government. I hope everyone thinks this through. Socialism does not work. It gives no incentive for anyone to strive to do better and create what we call, "The American Dream". I know this country is mad about the majority of what's going on here, but it's apparent most Americans have never stepped out of our country to see how others societies live. I have lived all over the world. Wether you believe it or not, this is the best country in the world because of our democratic free-market society. We are programmed as American's to strive for more and more in our life time. The problem is, we're very selfish as a nation. Nothing is ever good enough. We strive for more and more, whether your a business man (the right American way) or on a government welfare program learning loopholes on how to get more money from taxpayers and still many getting paid under the table avoiding our taxes. Again, before you vote, think...do I want Socialism or a Democratic society?
September 30, 2008
10:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Michael writes:
ACORN is also at the center of the mortgage meltdown. Another of their left wing pet projects is to get home loans for poor people - people that have a tough time making payments. They lobbied hard in the 90s for Fannie and Freddie to loosen up the lending rules so more bad loans could be made. This was done through the leadership of Frank Raines (Clinton appointee and now working for Obama) and HUGE political contributions to Barney Franks, Chris Dodd, and yes - Barack Obama. The Congressional Black Caucus is also in on this conspiracy to loan $$$ to people who never would qualify under any reasonable measure. Guess what? All those bad loans came home to roost and we now see the results of ACORN's influence on public policy and banking rules. They are NOT to be trusted.
September 30, 2008
10:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
you have to wonder why someone would be oppposed to more folks voting.
September 30, 2008
10:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
danirobi writes:
INC- It's Pelosi not Pilosi and no I would not screw up this country. Since 2002 the Republican have been trying to investigate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, all while your party has stopped them by blocking legislation. All those campaign funds that Dodd, Kerry and Obama have received must be real nice, huh? What offended me the most about Pelosi speech yesterday is that they are using my money to bailout wallstreet. This is a free market system and the market will correct itself. Have you taken a look at the stock market today, oh numbers are up. Pelosi also interjected some nice campaign speech in there for Obama with "hope for a new direction" nice one Pelosi, isn't that against ethics rules? 18 U.S.C comes to mind (I used to work for the feds)
everyone should watch this video...this is whats to come if Obama is elected. Indoctrination of our children....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW9b0x...
September 30, 2008
10:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
danirobi writes:
and I for one don't support my money going into a bailout bill that would fund Democratic campaigns through a corrupt organization such as ACORN.
BTW, you should tell you Democratic lady friends that the suffrage movement was about voting, not a womans right to kill her child.
http://townhall.com/Columnists/MonaCh...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12224...
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-t...
September 30, 2008
10:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mayor_Quimby writes:
These new voters are all crazy left wing loons that have ruined the states they came from, mainly California and the mid-west (Illinois, Michigan, PA) and are now going to destroy this state. Say goodbye to our low property taxes and business friendly climate. Say hello to corruption, crime, and high taxes.
September 30, 2008
10:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
leatherneck writes:
I see the Osama clan is going to Boulder next to try and get those libs to register also. They were all over the 16th street mall for weeks. It's one thing to get people to register, it's BS to also tell them who to vote for. The people who have not registered yet are the people more likely to believe NOBAMA'S LIES. I am sure some dead people will somehow rise from the GRAVE and vote for NOBAMA
McCain/Palin 08
September 30, 2008
11:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Elwood writes:
If "ACORN is targeting minority communities", can they be sued for discrimination or profiling?
I believe they receive gov't funds, can they be prosecuted for registering Illegal Aliens?
September 30, 2008
11:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
FCZ writes:
ACORN, Obama, and the Mortgage Mess.
ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a busy hive of left-wing agitation and "direct action" that claims chapters in 50 cities and 100,000 dues-paying members. ACORN is where Sixties leftovers who couldn't get tenure at universities wound up.
In 2006, for example, ACORN registered 1,800 new voters in Washington. The only trouble was, with the exception of six, all of the names submitted were fake. The secretary of state called it the "worst case of election fraud in our state's history."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/arti...
September 30, 2008
12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
OMG Danrobi that video reminds me of the children I have watched for years in brutal regimes with dictators as leaders.
North Korea is a prime example of children singing the praises of their "dear" leader. Unbelievable!!! Obama is just plain dangerous!!
September 30, 2008
12:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
BTW I noticed this was taken off the front page in a HURRY!
What?? To much truth about ACORN being written RMN??
September 30, 2008
12:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
jay writes: "you have to wonder why someone would be oppposed to more folks voting."
jay, jay, jay. Are you really that simple? What is your political philosophy - "if it sounds nice, then let's do it?"
"Folks" includes everybody. More folks like children? Like illegal aliens? Like people who live in foreign countries?
If you were a stockholder in a corporation, would you want to limit the voting to only your fellow stockholders, or would you be happy to let all 'folks' vote on the fate of your investment?
September 30, 2008
1:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
leroybrown writes:
I highly suggest everyone be well informed...and I don't mean from one source. Read, listen and watch...dig into as many resources as you can find. Read both nominees websites-see how they stand. Then take this information and make an informed vote.
Some members of my own family are totally enamored with one candidate - and all they watch is one news channel. How is that being well informed?
Make sure you know everything you can about your chosen candidate!
September 30, 2008
3:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
bluesman writes:
Check out:
www.rottenacorn.com
ACORN members have been prosecuted in numerous states for voter fraud and many of these felonies have resulted in prison time.
In Colorado in 2004 an ACORN employee admitted to forging signatures and registering three of her friends to vote 40 times.
In Washington in 2006, ACORN registered 1,800 new voters in Washington. The only trouble was, with the exception of six, all of the names submitted were fake. The secretary of state called it the "worst case of election fraud in our state's history."
Another story about ACORN's history:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/arti...
And remember---Barack Obama worked for these people and Barack Obama wanted 20% of the profits from the bailout package to go to ACORN.
Shame on the RMN for printing this article without putting in any of the truth about the historical corruption of ACORN. Journalism is dead in the USA.
September 30, 2008
3:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
well davies, i guess i didn't know what kind of conspiracy theories were involved in this mass caper.
duly noted.
September 30, 2008
3:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
INC writes:
Invite people to vote and the right gets all riled up...
I too am against the bailout let the greedy republicans suffer I say.
Back up the credit like the Irish did and we are out of the mess and the greedy still suffer.
September 30, 2008
4:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
cassidy22 writes:
Why are people complaining about citizens registering to vote? Your accusations that the Democratic party is recruiting illegal aliens to vote, etc is a bunch of bunk - and your typical repub fear mongering.
All citizens of this country, of legal age have the right to vote. less than 100 years ago, neither women NOR blacks had the right to vote. What a progressive society we are. Speaking on the women front - women protested, and died in prison to earn me my right to vote.
I think anyone out there encouraging folks to VOTE is doing the right thing.
And all of you screaming about the "wrong" people turning out to vote - what, are you scared of minorities? If they are citizens of this country, they have as much right as you and me. So get off your high horse.
Or are you scared that your party might lose if people unlike you get out and vote? You have no right to talk down to ANYONE in this country who wants to go out and vote. You should be talking down to the folks who sit on their arses and DON'T show up.
use your voice, use your voting power, and vote - everyone.
September 30, 2008
4:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
"All citizens of this country, of legal age have the right to vote." No argument there, from me or any other serious conservative.
Quite a different statement from just letting any 'folks' or 'people' vote though. So the whole issue here is, how do we reasonably verify a person's citizenship status? There are an estimated 400,000 to 500,000 illegal aliens living in Colorado, more than enough to swing an election.
So how do the liberals propose to verify citizenship before the person votes?
September 30, 2008
5:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
davies, can you tell me what you have to provide in order to vote on election day?
September 30, 2008
6:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
diggtbks writes:
Registering new voters is not the issue. The issue is ACORN has been caught in several states creating a phony voter database, people who do not exist- anywhere.
All their operatives need are multiple fake ID's with the names of the phony voters on them. Then they can vote multiple times at different locations for the same candidate.
September 30, 2008
6:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
redwhiteandBLUE writes:
Cassidy22
You are right..ALL..C-I-T-I-Z-E-N-S (American) not with fake or stolen ID's have the right to vote!
October 1, 2008
7:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
cassidy22 writes:
So then, are you all assuming that people are out trying to falsely register illegal aliens?
key word there being "assuming"
October 1, 2008
8:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
davies writes:
jay: Can't remember for sure, but I believe they check my Driver's License (government-issued picture ID) and then verify my name, address and voter registration/eligibility on their precinct list. (My son moved out east over 8 years ago, but I still get a card in the mail every election showing him as a registered voter at my address. If it were not for the picture ID requirement, I'm sure I could vote twice, once in his name.) And I am concerned as an American citizen, that an illegal aIien can also vote just based on having a DL, which is NOT proof of citizenship.
What I would like to see is a federal picture ID card system that would mitigate all kinds of problems, including illegal voting, illegal residency (and therefore employment eligibility), identity theft, and Homeland Security questions.
There could be a 'non US citizen' version of the card for legal guest workers and foreign students and such, but of course this card would not enable them to register to vote. This card would clearly show the date through which the person may legally reside in the country. States could issue driver's licenses that expire on the same date that the federal ID card expires. It would be cool if the federal card automatically self-destructed in a puff of smoke upon its expiration date. Just for a little added emphasis ;-)
October 1, 2008
10:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
jay writes:
so...what you're saying is that you're worried about people voting with fake DL's?
is that the crux of your position, davies?