Secretary of State Mike Coffman has ordered the four vendors who supply voting systems in Colorado to provide what is needed to retest their equipment or the equipment can’t be used in the 2008 elections.
In letters sent Wednesday, Coffman set a Nov. 16 deadline to provide missing materials.
“I’m just stunned at the lack of cooperation,” Coffman said. “The vendors have been asked repeatedly for information.”
State law requires voting equipment purchased after May 28, 2004, to be recertified to ensure it meets security and accuracy standards.
A September 2006 Denver federal court order requires the secretary of state to test all voting equipment “prior to the next primary, general or statewide ballot-issue election.”
“I hate to be the bad guy here, but I have to follow the law,” Coffman said.
Coffman said a week ago the work would be completed by Oct. 1, a concern to county clerks who worried about the short time before the Nov. 6 election if equipment was not certified.
On Wednesday, Coffman said that since the Nov. 6 election does not include a statewide issue, all previously certified electronic voting systems could be used in the election.
Coffman said retesting will be done by early December, which he thought would give time to prepare for the 2008 elections. He also promised to assist counties in finding solutions if their systems are not certified.
Jefferson County elections deputy Josh Liss applauded Coffman’s decision to wait until after the Nov. 6 election and added he hopes Coffman will use the county clerks’ relationships with the vendors to get the material so clerks and voters don’t get caught in the crossfire.
“The whole point to this is to restore voters’ confidence,” Liss said.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
