Coffman removes Denver from state’s Watch List

Clerk committed to ensuring shorter wait times for voters

Denver, October 24, 2008 – Today Secretary of State Mike Coffman announced that Denver 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 Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley, Coffman agreed that Denver had successfully established procedures to better handle wait times.

“Following Clerk O’Malley’s election in 2007, she has been tireless in her commitment to ensure that her voters won’t experience excessive wait times,” said Coffman. “The voters in Denver should have the upmost respect for Clerk O’Malley and confidence in the elections held in the county.”

During the 2006 General Election, Denver experienced long wait times for voters on Election Day following the transition to vote centers. In Coffman’s letter to O’Malley, he highlighted the following:

• A new voting model to include precinct based voting, paper ballots, and the use of the SCORE system and paper pollbook.
• Increased staff and pollworker training prior to the election.

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.