Chief Election Official Completes Uniform Standards for Security Plans

Denver CO, September 27, 2006 - Today Secretary of State Gigi Dennis filed the uniform standards for security plans with Denver District Court Judge Lawrence Manzanares in response to his order regarding the lawsuit on new electronic voting devices.

The new standards for security plans include physical security requirements, temperature controls, security cameras and surveillance, equipment maintenance procedures, transportation requirements, and security training for election judges, as well as protocols for addressing evidence of any tampering with the equipment.

"We share a common interest with all Colorado citizens to improve our elections," Dennis said. "Ensuring voters trust and confidence in the election process is a paramount concern for myself and all the election officials across the state and our goal is to always improve rules and standards in this area."

The Secretary of State worked closely with the Plaintiffs in the lawsuit to come up with security requirements that will improve the security and reliability of the equipment to be used in the upcoming November election.

Pursuant to the Denver District Court order, the county clerk and recorders will be required to file updated security and contingency requirements with the Secretary of State's office by October 20, 2006.

Secretary Dennis stresses the importance of the equipment for those voters who have physical disabilities. "DREs allow freedom to vote independently and privately where the paper ballot requires disabled voters to be dependent upon someone else," Dennis added.

More information about Colorado's voting equipment may be obtained from the Secretary of State's website at www.GoVoteColorado.com.