As reported, the record turnout on Caucus night in San Miguel County shows there is tremendous excitement about this year’s Presidential election. The General Election on Nov. 4 anticipates the largest turnout of voters in the history of our county.

Briefly, the following events have taken place since the announcement on Dec. 17, 2007, from Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman regarding many of Colorado’s electronic voting machines being inadequate.

* Pursuant to Secretary Coffman’s testing results there is an accuracy issue on all HART escans. This is the equipment that counts the votes on election night. (San Miguel County owns one HART escan). Additionally, 47 of the 64 counties in the State of Colorado own HART electronic equipment.

* All counties are required by HAVA (Help American Vote Act) to use a DRE (an Electronic Voting Machine) at every polling location accommodating the disability communities.

* The County Clerks Association of Colorado proposed an all Mail Ballot for 2008 for the Primary and General Election. Secretary of State Coffman supports this Mail Ballot plan.

* Governor Ritter announced a plan to support legislation to vote by paper at the polling places. Voting by paper means a ballot can be optically scanned, but a paper trail remains. (With the electronic voting machines we have always had a paper trail as a part of our system.)

* Score II, another requirement by HAVA is to convert to a statewide voter registration system. San Miguel County is undertaking this conversion in March 2008.

* Currently, additional testing, public hearings, rule making and legislation are in process. New rules, conditions and laws will be passed quickly to resolve pending election issues.

How will we be voting in August and in November?

In spite of the multiple issues surrounding our upcoming elections, San Miguel County will be OK! For the past two years, we have worked with the combination of paper and electronic voting. Assuming we have no mechanical breakdowns, San Miguel County has sufficient optical scan and DRE equipment as required by HAVA.

San Miguel County has always ordered sufficient paper ballots for all of our voters and will continue this practice. The format of the 2008 Elections will look similar to the 2006 and 2007 elections, with precinct polling locations, DREs, paper ballots, and mail-in ballots.

What can you do?

* You must register to vote at least 30 days prior to the Elections. The Primary Election is Aug. 12, 2008, and the General Election is Nov. 4, 2008.

* Applications to vote are found at the Secretary of State’s website: www.sos.state.co.us or at local municipalities or our office. You must be registered to vote!

* Please make sure your voter registration address is current and correct, both physical and mailing and that you know your party affiliation. You can verify your voter information: www.sos.state.co.us or please contact our office.

* Finally, you may apply for a permanent mail ballot application. All active voters will be receiving an application in the mail in March from our office, or you may contact our office to apply. If you think you might be out of town, fear a snowstorm or simply want to avoid the crowds on Election Day, or just have time to study the ballot, please consider this convenient way to vote.

It is my intention to keep the public educated and informed of any and all changes this coming election year. As always, I value your comments and welcome any questions you might have.