Secretary Coffman’s Statement Regarding Recent Recommendations to Reform Colorado’s Inactive Voter Law

October 9, 2007

Background:

Under current Colorado law, voters who have not voted in a general election and who have not responded to correspondence from the County Clerk and Recorder must be placed on “inactive” voter status. A voter who has not voted for two consecutive general elections and who has failed to respond to any notice from the County Clerk and Recorder must be cancelled from voter registration rolls. Inactive voters may change their status either by voting in an election or contacting their County Clerk and Recorder.

In odd year elections, County Clerks currently have the option of holding a polling place or mail ballot election. This November 41 of the 64 counties will be holding an all mail ballot.

Responses:

After reviewing today’s recommendations by advocacy groups to change Colorado’s voter inactive law, Secretary of State Mike Coffman released the following statement.

Recommendation: Counties should mail ballots to all registered voters in all mail elections, rather than only active voters.

Response: “I’m always concerned about maintaining an accurate list of registered voters and I think that anytime you try to loosen the standards you increase the potential for fraud in our elections.”

Recommendation: Conduct odd-year elections entirely by mail.

Response: “I think that it’s best to let locally elected officials make this decision based on what is in the best interest of their voters.”