DEMOCRATS URGE SECRETARY OF STATE TO FIX HIS MISTAKES

Denver, CO – Colorado Democrats are joining with Governor Bill Ritter in urging the Secretary of State to clear up any confusion he created and to treat voter registrants equally.

Coloradans concerned about recent news reports, suggesting that new voters would be treated different from other voters, can confirm that they are successfully registered to vote in Colorado in a number of ways. The main source of the confusion is the Colorado Secretary of State’s office which designed an ambiguously worded registration form that led thousands of voters to not provide necessary information. Unfortunately, election officials then sent letters to applicants confusing them even more.

"The Secretary should enroll these registrants and treat them equally. The Secretary of State’s job is to facilitate voting for as many legitimate Colorado voters as possible, and not to stand in the way as people vote for the change our country needs," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "When voters go to the polls they deserve to have confidence in the electoral process, and we are working hard to make sure that every eligible voter can vote and have their vote counted."

New voter registration applicants who sent (postmarked) or submitted forms to the Secretary of State or their County Clerk by the October 6, 2008 registration deadline will appear on the voter registration rolls, although the Secretary’s office is currently requiring a Colorado driver’s license number from those who have one. That information may still be provided up until Election Day.

Registrants may visit the Secretary of State’s website, http://www.sos.state.co.us/, to confirm their voter registration information by entering their first name, last name, zip code and date of birth. Newly registered voters can visit the County Clerk’s office nearest to them or to call the Secretary of State at 303-894-2200 to inquire about their registration status.

While at the County Clerk’s office, voters are encouraged to request, in-person, a vote-by-mail ballot to ensure that they are not forced to cast a provisional ballot, and to avoid any unsuspected inconveniences on Election Day.

Mail-in ballots may be returned by hand to the Clerk’s office or to a vote center within the county in which the voter is registered, or via postal mail. Voters should be advised to include sufficient postage.

Concerned voters are also encouraged to contact their local Democratic campaign office for additional assistance by calling 1-877 CO08-VOTE (1-877-260-8868)