DENVER—State leaders backed off a plan Wednesday to switch to paper ballots this year, leaving counties free to use electronic voting machines that were considered unfit until about a month ago.
Gov. Bill Ritter and many lawmakers had pushed for paper ballots in 2008 but reversed themselves in the face of opposition from county clerks.
Secretary of State Mike Coffman had decertified most of the electronic equipment used in Colorado in December, citing accuracy and security concerns. But he recertified all of it after testing new fixes and talking to county clerks.
With time running out to make the change to paper, Ritter said Coffman’s decision to recertify of the machines, combined with the clerks’ opposition to the switch, led him to change his mind.
He said his office will continue to work with the clerks to address any potential election problems.
“We’re going to work every day and night to make sure we have a system that works in the fall,” Ritter said.
Money also became an issue. State officials had planned to spend $11 million to pay for the switch to paper, but most of that money dried up this week as lawmakers finalized their proposed budget.
Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer said money was not the deal-breaker and said the governor would have found the funds if the clerks thought paper was the best option.
“At the end of the day, for the clerks, it’s really not about the money,” Dreyer said.
Sen. Moe Keller, vice chairwoman of the Joint Budget Committee, said she would have voted against the switch because no money is available for it.
The return to electronic machines could open up the state to a lawsuit.
Paul Hultin, a lawyer for a group of activists who don’t think the machines are reliable, said he would consult with his clients on what to do next.
He said state officials were ignoring studies by computer scientists questioning the machines.
“Nothing has changed. The machines are what they are,” Hultin said.
Hultin’s clients won a court order in 2006 that required the original tests that led Coffman to decertify the machines.
Most county clerks opposed paper ballots even after Ritter, Coffman and lawmakers said they were willing to spend the $11 million for the switch.
Many clerks argued paper ballots would be less convenient for voters because they would curtail early voting locations, among other things.
Nancy Amick, president of the Colorado County Clerks Association and the Rio Blanco county clerk, said that as things stand now, counties are free to run their elections as they wish, either by paper ballot or electronic machines.
Lawmakers still could propose a paper ballot election conducted by mail, but Ritter said he doesn’t expect that.
Amick said clerks need to have the issue resolved.
“We’re out of time. We’ve got elections to run. We need to get down to business,” she said.
Coffman said he trusts the clerks to run this year’s elections, which are expected to draw record turnout because of the hotly contested presidential campaign, an open U.S. Senate seat and several competitive races for the U.S. House.
Coffman said the recertification process was “rigorous and comprehensive” and said voters can trust that the systems are secure and accurate.
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, a Colorado Springs Republican who co-sponsored the paper ballot bill, said he now thinks voters should be able to use the electronic machines.
“I think the machines, quite frankly, are more secure than paper,” McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, said.
