June 11, 2015
VIA EMAIL
Suzanne Staiert, Deputy
Secretary of State Colorado Department of State
1700 Broadway
Denver, CO 80290
Re: Watcher
Advisory Panel, June 12 meeting
public comment Dear Deputy
Secretary Staiert:
We are writing on behalf of the Election
Oversight Committee of the Colorado Republican Party regarding election
watcher activities in general,
and specifically the critical importance of transparency and oversight
of the signature verification process
for mail ballots. We request that this public
comment be delivered to all members
of the Panel in advance
of the June 12 meeting.
As the panel considers
the importance of election
oversight by authorized watchers, we request
that the panel member reference
the policy statement provided by the Colorado
Republican Party supporting the principle
currently in statute of watchers’ rights to “witness
and verify each step in the conduct of the election, and to assist in the correction of discrepancies.” The party statement of dated May 14, 2015 is attached.
The right to verify and assist in the correction of discrepancies is essential in the signature
verification process. In mail ballot elections, signatures are the only means of validating the voters’ identity. The opportunity for fraud and abuse is rampant in mail
ballot elections, and acknowledged by most election
security experts,
regardless of party affiliation. Voters and watchers’
ability to challenge
eligibility is not and should not be limited,
regardless of the number or type of ballots challenged. Watchers
must be able to challenge any mail ballot voter’s
signature— not merely a sample selected or restricted by election
officials. By restricting watchers to inspection of only a sample of signatures or review the work of up to four separate
signature verification stations simultaneously, the statutory rights
of the watcher
to “witness and verify EACH step in the conduct
of the election,” and “assist in the correction of discrepancies,” or challenge mail ballot voters are improperly
infringed.
Therefore, any constraints on the practical ability of the watchers to verify
or challenge any signature they select (without
foregoing their rights to review other signatures being simultaneously processed), are improper
and conflict with statutory
watchers’ rights.
We fully recognize the need of election officials to be able to effectively and efficiently count ballots.
However, we also believe that fully complying
with the law concerning the ability
of watchers to verify
and challenge signatures does not conflict with the ability
of election officials to perform their job properly. Developing a system or procedures in advance of elections to accommodate the watchers and their ability to perform their duties should
alleviate many concerns that election officials may have concerning watcher involvement.
I think we all can agree that election fairness and transparency are top priorities.
It is essential that all candidates, issue committees and their supporters, regardless of political
affiliation, be permitted
to have equal access to challenge
ineligible voters and incorrect
decisions by election judges. Without full rights of all watchers to challenge the decisions of bi-‐partisan
election judges,
the election lacks fairness and transparency.
We are pleased to offer our comments, and appreciate the opportunity to do so to inform the work of the Watcher
Advisory Panel. Please contact
me or Marilyn Marks,
Secretary of the Election
Oversight Committee, (Marilyn@AspenOffice.com) if you have questions. Thank you for your consideration of our comments.
Becky Mizel
cc: The Honorable Wayne Williams, Colorado Secretary
of State (via email) Steve House, Chair Colorado Republican Party (via email)
Derrick Wilburn, Vice-‐Chair Colorado Republican Party
(via email)
Committee members:
Al Kolwicz, Marilyn
Marks, Ellyn Hilliard
(to be confirmed), Marc Zarlengo.
Legislative Liaison, -‐Charles Heatherly (via email)
Steven Ward, Dept of State, Elections
Division
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