Coloradans would vote primarily by mail, and they could register to vote on Election Day, under a bill Democrats are proposing at the state Capitol. Neighborhood polling places at schools and churches would be a thing of the past, and in-person voting would happen at a few centralized voting centers in each county, if the bill passes. Even before it has been introduced, the bill has touched off a partisan fight. But the Colorado County Clerks Association supports the bill. Many clerks, like Montezuma County’s Carol Tullis, are Republicans and still support the bill. “It sounds good on the surface,” Tullis said.
A majority of voters prefer to vote by mail, so Tullis thinks that mailing ballots to all registered voters would simplify the system for voters.
And it will be cheaper for Montezuma County, Tullis said. Instead of operating 11 neighborhood precincts, she would have three centralized voting centers for people who prefer to vote in person.
But at the Legislature, the two parties already are lining up against each other. Democrats have many county clerks on their side. Republicans are aligned with GOP Secretary of State Scott Gessler, who has been speaking out against the bill.
The Colorado County Clerks Association initiated many parts of the bill, seeking a less complicated, less expensive way to run elections.
Under the bill, every registered voter would get a mail ballot. Voters still could choose to go to a vote center during the 15 days before the election to cast their votes in person.
Full Article: The Cortez Journal 04/11/2013 | GOP is sharply critical of election-access bill.