State asks mobile voters to confirm registrations

New mobile-optimized site didn't collect new voter registrations

Denver, September 26, 2012 - Today, Secretary of State Scott Gessler alerted new voters that they may not be registered if they used GoVoteColorado.com using a mobile device or tablet for a period of 11 days. The issue affects less than 800 first-time voters between September 14 and 24.

"My office will aggressively reach out to these individuals to ensure that they get registered," Gessler said. "Anyone who registered using the mobile site can confirm their voter registration by visiting GoVoteColorado.com, contacting their county clerk, or calling my office. I’m taking full responsibility and using all avenues available to alert these Coloradans of our mistake."

On August 31, Gessler’s office announced that Coloradans could register to vote using a mobile device or tablet. On September 13, the office corrected problems of voters clicking the submit button more than once. The change to the programming created intermittent problems with the mobile site collecting the data and adding it to the state’s voter registration system.

The office discovered the issue when one of its employees registered to vote using the mobile application, and didn’t appear in the voter registration system. Information technology staff quickly pinpointed the faulty programming and began correcting the application. People can now again register using the mobile site.

Anyone who registered using a mobile phone or tablet should verify their registration by visiting GoVoteColorado.com. There they can confirm their registration or re-register using that site. Though the registration deadline is October 9, these voters can still register to vote up to and on Election Day using an emergency registration, or vote a provisional ballot.