Coffman Removes Routt County From State’s Watch List

Clerk committed to ensuring shorter wait times for voters

Denver, July 24, 2008 – Today Secretary of State Mike Coffman announced that Routt County has been removed from the state’s Election Watch List after correcting deficiencies following the 2006 General Election. After receiving a request for removal from County Clerk and Recorder Kay Weinland, Coffman agreed that Routt County had successfully established procedures to better mitigate wait times.

“Clerk Weinland has been tireless in her commitment to ensure that her voters won’t experience excessive wait times,” said Coffman. “The voters in Routt County should have the upmost respect for you and confidence in the elections held in your county.”

During the 2006 General Election, Routt County experienced long wait times for some voters following the transition to vote centers. In Coffman’s letter to Routt County, he highlighted the following developments:

• A plan for ensuring acceptable wait times for voters to include a return to precinct-based polling locations, the addition of two polling locations in the Steamboat Springs area, and making paper ballots available at each polling location;
• On-site vendor technical support dedicated solely to Routt County, as well as on-call county Information System support on Election Day; and
• Communication procedures to ensure contact with county employees in the event of an emergency or technological issue.

Established in 2007, Coffman developed the state’s Election Watch List program to help restore confidence of voters in the counties that experienced significant problems during the 2006 election. The announcement comes the same day as Montrose County’s removal from the Election Watch List.