Interesting Letter to the Editor in Colorado Springs' Gazette

This morning I opened my Colorado Springs Gazette, a paper I can read in its entirety in less than fifteen minutes and a cup of coffee, (and they wonder why the business is going under), and I came across this letter to the editor:

ELECTIONS AT RISK?

Clerk’s mistake highlights holes in system

I moved to Colorado Springs after serving overseas in the Army and was invited to be a part of the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Citizens Academy. I learned about the election office, voter registration, vehicle registration, and how our El Paso County commission operates. After the class, I felt confident about my decision to settle here. I got my license changed and registered to vote.

On Dec. 4, Bob Balink informed us that Dec. 5 was the last day to affiliate in order to participate in Colorado’s caucuses.

On Dec. 5 I went to the Clerk and Recorder's office to affiliate with the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, a mistake was made and I remained unaffiliated according to the clerk’s records. Thus, even though I was elected to be a delegate for the El Paso County Democratic assembly, I was turned away.

I understand things happen. However, when a voter goes out of his way to get involved, the county should do its part. How many El Paso County voters have been treated this way?

Can the system be trusted? What about the elections? Will they accurately record my vote?

Sandra Parcher
Colorado Springs

What is interesting is that I know she was not that unique. For following the caucus and arduous task of working through the administration there were a large number of folks who signed statements of eligibility claiming they had registered properly before December 5th and then were elected delegates or alternates only to be disqualified because their records were not in order in El Paso County Clerk & Recorders Office. Some got themselves straightened out before hand, most did not.

One of example of note is Jason DeGrootO, one of our Obama supervolunteers who had to return to the Clerk's office three times after mailing in a new registration to change his party affiliation to make certain his record was in order. Coincidence or practice...not sure. But Bob Balink is adament that the biggest problem he faces is the phantom delusion that a person who is not a citizen will go in and register to vote. Heck if that even did happen they would probably screw up the registration anyway and the illegal voter wouldn't be on the roles anyway!