Election judge Rob Smoke stamps ballots at the ballot drop-off location in Longmont last June. (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Call)
Re: “Don’t give your ballot to thieves,” Oct. 12 guest commentary.
I didn’t know the history of guest columnist Marilyn Marks and mail balloting until I looked her up. I looked her up because I had never heard such a far-fetched tale of treachery as the one she wove: “ballot harvesters, ” paid to alter or destroy your ballot. What? For whom? Where? When? Letap see some evidence that anything like this has happened at all, much less very often. Who would risk federal prison for a few votes in an election where even hundreds of votes are cast? As far as I know, the only allegations of voter fraud in Colorado come from Montezuma, where a few dozen ballots were cast. Harvesting has not been alleged.
This sure sounds like more completely made-up propaganda intended to justify laws that make it harder for legitimate voters to cast their ballot.
Ben Harding, Boulder
This letter was published in the Oct. 19 edition.A recent column suggested there are roving bands of “ballot thieves” out to steal votes. Thatap simply not true. Colorado elections give voters options to cast their ballots. Voters can mail their ballots, drop them off, vote in person, or give their signed and sealed ballot to someone they trust to turn it in. In fact, Colorado law allows one person to collect up to 10 ballots per election to turn in for others. Itap designed to allow family members, neighbors, friends, nonprofits, or even campaigns to turn in ballots for voters with disabilities, seniors or others who might not have their votes counted otherwise. You should only give your ballot to someone you trust, but since ballots must be received — not postmarked — by 7 p.m. on Election Day, this is an important protection for voters. Yes, even people who procrastinate until the last day have the right to vote!
Elena Nunez, Denver
The writer is executive director of Colorado Common Cause.
This letter was published in the Oct. 19 edition.
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