DENVER—People who received letters questioning their citizenship and right to vote will learn Wednesday what steps Colorado election officials will take next.
Some of the nearly 4,000 letters sent by Secretary of State Scott Gessler went to U.S. citizens, although it’s unknown how many. The American Civil Liberties Union in Colorado said at least 25 people who were eligible voters have contacted them and that the number is growing.
The Republican elections chief sent letters this month to people he suspects are non-citizens but appear on voter rolls. He said he suspects those registered voters of being ineligible to vote because they presented documents showing that they were not citizens, such as a green card, when applying for a driver’s license.
The letters ask voters to voluntarily withdraw their registration or affirm that they’re eligible voters.
Gessler said some people have responded to affirm their citizenship or to withdraw their status. His office plans to release those figures Thursday.
The public meeting Wednesday is to address plans on how to proceed with those who have not responded and other questions surrounding his plan. Gessler is not expected to be there.
Democrats have criticized the Republican’s plan and said it can disenfranchise legal voters or make it difficult to exercise their right to vote. Gessler’s critics have also questioned his political motivations in a year that Colorado is expected to be a battleground presidential state, with hotly contested congressional races and control of the Legislature up for grabs.
The vast majority of registered voters who received letters were Democrats or independent voters. Of the nearly 4,000 letters, 1,566 went to Democrats and 1,794 went to unaffiliated voters. Another 486 letters were sent to Republicans.
Gessler insists his goal is to maintain accurate voter rolls and denies any political motivation. His office said it did not look at voter registration when sending the letters.
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