Colorado listed in top five for overseas voting policies

Buescher continues to seek improvements

Denver, October 16, 2009 – After compiling records from the 2008 General Election, the Overseas Vote Foundation named Colorado in the top five states for its military and overseas voting policies. Rounding out the other states were Iowa, New Mexico, South Carolina and Kansas.

The report titled “A UOCAVA State Policy Index,” written by the foundation’s research program director Dr. Claire M. Smith, ranks all 50 states according to specific criteria and state laws governing ballot access for all overseas voters.

“Colorado continues to be at the forefront for reaching out to these voters, many of whom are serving and defending our country away from their families,” Buescher said. “This is a testament to the dedication of Colorado’s county clerks and their tireless efforts helping these voters cast their ballots.”

Buescher cited recent state legislation that extends the travel time for overseas mail ballots to arrive at the county clerks’ offices and the potential for a pilot program to exchange ballots via a secure internet connection, as examples.

“We’re continuing to review best practices used throughout the country to identify additional options for overseas Colorado voters,” Buescher said. “Obviously, my end goal is to ensure that every overseas voter that wants to cast a ballot has the same opportunities as voters at home. Many of these voters are men and women serving this country in the armed forces and they deserve the best possible opportunity to cast their votes in our elections.”

For more information, please visit www.OverseasVoteFoundation.org and go to the “OVF Research Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 3: September 2009.”