Wayne W. Williams Clerk & Recorder (719) 520-6202 waynewilliams@elpasoco.

com

El Paso

County

Citizens Service Center Suite 2201 1675 West Garden of the Gods Road Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2007 Colorado Springs, CO 80901-2007 Web Site: http://car.elpasoco.com

Office of the Clerk and Recorder

May17,2012 TheHonorableJohnHickenlooper GovernorsOffice 136StateCapitol Denver,CO80203(viafaxandemail) Re:RequestthesigningofHB121036(CORA/Elections) DearGovernorHickenlooper: IamwritingtoencourageyoutosignHB121036(CORA/Elections).Thisisaveryimportantpieceof legislationthatwillprotectourelectionsandhelpensuretransparencytothecitizensofColorado. Myofficetookpartinworkingtodraftthisbillbecausewebelieveinauniformandtransparentprocessfor allowingmembersofthepublictoviewvotedballots.Westronglyfeelthisbillprovidesusthebalancefor protectingavotersconstitutionallyprotectedsecretballotandallowingmembersofthepublictoview thoseballots. TherearethreekeyprovisionstothisbillthatIwouldliketopointouttoyou: 1. Itoutlinesapublicinspectionprocessforvotedballots.Thiswillallowforauniformprocessthatall countieswillfollow.Inspectionsbeforeandafterthosedateswillbemadeavailablewiththefollowing requirements: Theelectionofficialisrequiredtocoverorredactanymarkingsormessagesonaballotthat couldidentifythevoter. Inordertoprotectanonymity,ballotsforinspectionmaybepresentedinrandomorder. Thepersonseekingtheinspectionmayindicateaspecificcandidatecontest,ballotissueorballot questionforwhichthepersonseekstoinspecttheballots.ThepersonmakingtheCORArequest willbechargedactualcostsofmakingtheelectionrecordsandballotsavailableunderexisting CORAstatutes. 2. ItprovidesaCORAexemptionofaccesstotheballots45dayspriortotheelectionthroughthe certification.Thiswillshieldvoteranonymityandprovideimportantchainofcustodyprotectionofthe votedballotsthroughanyrecountprocess.Allotherexistinglawswillstillapplyincludingthereports availablethroughSCORE,auditprocess,electionjudges,canvassboards,recounts,challenges,etc. 3. ItprotectsMilitaryandOverseasVotersballots.Manyoftheseballotscometoourofficeviafaxand emailandtheseballotsareeasilytracedbacktothevoter.Whilethesevotersdosignawaiverforthe secretballot,Ibelievethatclerkshaveadutytoprotectthoseballotsfrompublicinspection.Thislaw

Chief Deputy Suite 2201 Alissa Vander Veen 520-7322 alissavanderveen@elpasoco.com

Clerk to BOCC Suite 2201 Vicki Ratterree, Manager 520-6432 vickiratterree@elpasoco.com

Election Suite 2202 Liz Olson, Manager 520-6222 lizolson@elpasoco.com

Motor Vehicle Suite 1200 Tony Anderson, Manager 520-7302 tonyanderson@elpasoco.com

Recording Suite 1200 Sandy Hook, Manager 520-6208 sandyhook@elpasoco.com

allowsclerkstoprotect/redactthoseballotsinordertoprotecttheprivacyofvoters.Militarymembers sacrificetheirlivestoprovideusthefreedomtocastaballotandIbelievethatweshoulddo everythingtoensuretheyreceivethesameprivacyasanyothervoter.Thisbillallowsclerksthepower towithholdorredacttheseballotsfromaCORArequest. Nooriginalballotrequestedthatmayimpactavotersrighttoprivacyissubjecttodirect inspection;however,theinformationcontainedintheballotmaybereviewedinamannerthat willconveythepublicinformationwithoutdisclosureofballotprivacy.Forexample,anoriginal militaryballotthatwasfaxedtotheClerkwouldnotbesubjecttodirectreview,buta duplicatedversionofthevotescastmaybeinspectedwithoutanypotentialtoidentifythe voter. Whilethislegislationisnotperfect,thatisthepowerofcompromisebothsidescomingtoanagreement tofindabalancethatbestservesbothsides.Compromiseisanimportantandintrinsicpieceofour countrysfounding.Compromisekeepsonesidefrombullyingtheotherintosubmissioninordertogetan extremeoutcome.Thisiswhatwehadwhenwebeganthisprocessopposingviewsthatworkedtogether tofindcommongroundforthepeopleoftheStateofColorado.Neithersideprevailed,butwhatresulted wasabipartisanpieceoflegislation. ThislegislationwassupportedbytheColoradoCountyClerksAssociation,theColoradoSecretaryofState, ColoradoMunicipalLeague,SpecialDistrictsAssociation,ColoradoAssociationofSchoolBoards,Colorado Counties,Inc.,theColoradoPressAssociation,andbothpoliticalparties.Thesearemanyorganizationsthat wouldbeconsideredstakeholdersinColoradoelectionsthatcametogethertodraftandpassapieceof legislationthatwouldbenefitthepeopleofColorado.IencourageyoutosignHB1036forthegoodof Coloradoselections. Thankyouforyourtimeandattentiononthismatter. Verytrulyyours, WayneW.Williams ElPasoCountyClerk&Recorder