Colorado Voter Reform
Colorado Voter Reform: A Model for the Nation
Since the early 2000s, many states have taken on the daunting task to reform age-old election processes. Many states have opted for simple changes, focusing on only a few revisions, the most contentious being a requirement for some form of photo identification when voting at the polls. While Colorado has had on the books its own identification requirements, the reform the state chose focused on neither that nor any other single reform. Instead, the reforms Colorado wanted made voting more economical and more accessible, thus increasing participation, and improving voter experience. On May 3, 2013, lawmakers passed House Bill 13-1303 (HB 1303) also known as the Voter Access and Modernized Elections …show more content…
A provisional ballot is used when a voter’s eligibility is called into question. In this regard, this ballot is essentially a placeholder until the voter can later prove eligibility. When this occurs, the ballot is officially counted and added to the total. Because of the provisions within HB 1303; delivery of mail ballots to all voters, same-day registration and VSPCs, an impressive reduction of provisional ballots occurred. In 2010, the state issued 39,361 provisional ballots, while in 2014 it only issued 981, a 97% reduction. For the city and county of Denver, over the same time period, went from 6000 to only 179 provisional ballots, saving the city and county approximately $28,000 (qtd. in Pew Charitable …show more content…
However in light of HB 1303, Colorado voter experience cannot be more positive. In a survey of more than 1,500 people, satisfaction was nearly identical between mail and in-person voters. 95% of mail voters indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied, compared to 96% of in-person voters (Pew Charitable Trusts). Being able to take the time to read the ballot, research the candidates and the issues, all in the comfort of one’s home makes the whole process less stressful. By receiving a ballot in the mail, a voter does not have to go down to the polls where he or she could get the disapproving looks of other voters when they see an opposing candidate’s bumper sticker on the their car. The ballot can either be mailed back or a voter can simply take the completed ballot to any drop box.
While Colorado was not the first state to have a vote by mail system, it followed Oregon in 2000 and Washington in 2011, Colorado’s overall success with the vote by mail system only reinforces the notion that other states should follow suit. The money savings alone have shown other states that are often in a budgetary crisis, a way to save taxpayer dollars. California has taken the steps to be the next state in the union to vote-by-mail starting in
Since the early 2000s, many states have taken on the daunting task to reform age-old election processes. Many states have opted for simple changes, focusing on only a few revisions, the most contentious being a requirement for some form of photo identification when voting at the polls. While Colorado has had on the books its own identification requirements, the reform the state chose focused on neither that nor any other single reform. Instead, the reforms Colorado wanted made voting more economical and more accessible, thus increasing participation, and improving voter experience. On May 3, 2013, lawmakers passed House Bill 13-1303 (HB 1303) also known as the Voter Access and Modernized Elections …show more content…
A provisional ballot is used when a voter’s eligibility is called into question. In this regard, this ballot is essentially a placeholder until the voter can later prove eligibility. When this occurs, the ballot is officially counted and added to the total. Because of the provisions within HB 1303; delivery of mail ballots to all voters, same-day registration and VSPCs, an impressive reduction of provisional ballots occurred. In 2010, the state issued 39,361 provisional ballots, while in 2014 it only issued 981, a 97% reduction. For the city and county of Denver, over the same time period, went from 6000 to only 179 provisional ballots, saving the city and county approximately $28,000 (qtd. in Pew Charitable …show more content…
However in light of HB 1303, Colorado voter experience cannot be more positive. In a survey of more than 1,500 people, satisfaction was nearly identical between mail and in-person voters. 95% of mail voters indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied, compared to 96% of in-person voters (Pew Charitable Trusts). Being able to take the time to read the ballot, research the candidates and the issues, all in the comfort of one’s home makes the whole process less stressful. By receiving a ballot in the mail, a voter does not have to go down to the polls where he or she could get the disapproving looks of other voters when they see an opposing candidate’s bumper sticker on the their car. The ballot can either be mailed back or a voter can simply take the completed ballot to any drop box.
While Colorado was not the first state to have a vote by mail system, it followed Oregon in 2000 and Washington in 2011, Colorado’s overall success with the vote by mail system only reinforces the notion that other states should follow suit. The money savings alone have shown other states that are often in a budgetary crisis, a way to save taxpayer dollars. California has taken the steps to be the next state in the union to vote-by-mail starting in