Eight Colorado county clerks, their staffs and the residents in those jurisdictions tested new voting equipment in the November election as part of a pilot program.
The aim was to help Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams figure out which system might be best for the state. Colorado currently uses a patchwork of different systems and some machines are beyond repair.
“It’s a great opportunity to try different systems and rather than just buying them, we’re trying a new kind of common-sense approach of try before you buy,” Williams said.
One large county and one mid-sized county were paired together to test machines from four different companies:
Clear Ballot - This system was tested in Adams and Gilpin counties. In Adams County, Clerk Stan Martin and Elections Administrator and Chief Deputy Clerk Christi Coburn ran the program and in Gilpin County Clerk Colleen Stewart and Elections Administrator/Chief Deputy Gail Maxwell were in charge.
Dominion Voting Systems - Denver Clerk Deb Johnson with assistance from Amber McReynolds, Director of Elections and Jimmy Flanagan, Senior Voting System analyst piloted the Dominion Voting Systems system in November as well as in May and June. Mesa County Clerk Shelia Reiner and Elections Director Amanda Polson ran the Dominion pilot in their county.
ES&S - Jefferson County Clerk Faye Griffin and Director of Elections Carrie Kellogg were responsible for the ES&S test in their county as were Teller County Clerk Krystal Brown, Chief Deputy Stephanie Wise and Election Deputy Janice Hellman in their county.
Hart InterCivic - The Hart Intercivic pilot was conducted in Douglas and Garfield counties. In Douglas County, Clerk Merlin Klotz and Elections Manager Sheri Davis were in charge and in Garfield County it was Clerk Jean Alberico, Chief Deputy Edna Place, Election Supervisor Pam Bunn and Election Clerk Maria Gornick.
Elections officials were enthusiastic in their praise of the voting machine firms and the support their employees provided.
A committee that has been studying the issue of new voting machines for Colorado is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. The four voting systems providers are coming in to answer questions from the Pilot Election Review Committee and make a pitch for their systems.
On hand to witness the pilot counties on Tuesday were California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who wants to adopt portions of Colorado’s voting system, and Matthew Masterson, a Commissioner with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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