    
John Howard
Frequent Voting Rights Forum Participant
Username: Harmonyguy
Post Number: 140
Registered: 12-2004
Best of Black Box? N/A
Votes: 0 (A keeper?) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 - 9:03 pm: | 
|
Pueblo voters may go to the polls today to cast ballots on statewide Referendums C and D and on school board candidates. Precinct polling places throughout the city and county will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This is not - repeat not - the way to vote in the city's municipal election, which is being conducted separately by mail for the first time.
So, vote twice this year - once in the combined state-school board election today and again in the city election by mail.
One thing to remember about the city election: Make sure to deliver your ballot by 7 p.m. Nov. 8, which is a week from today. Postmarks won't count. If it's too late to mail, or you want to save the 60-cents postage, you may return your ballots in person to City Hall or either of two branch libraries - at 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd., and 1300 Jerry Murphy Road.
Another thing to remember: Use a No. 2 pencil or a pen with black ink to connect the arrows printed to the right of your choices of candidates and the three City Charter questions on this year's mail ballot.
A No. 2 pencil or black pen both are acceptable, according to "Official Instructions" included in the municipal ballot envelope. Don't be fooled by the printed ballot, itself, which says, "IMPORTANT: USE A #2 PENCIL," and fails to add "or black ink pen."
What happens if you use another color? According to City Clerk Gina Dutcher's office, an election worker will sort out "red" or "yellow" or other non-black ballots. These culls will be handed to a team of three people who will correct the ballot with the proper black color - without changing the intended vote, of course, because that would constitute election fraud.
After you've negotiated the act of voting (connecting the arrows in black), your next task is to insert your ballot - and only your ballot - into a "Secrecy Envelope."
For experienced Pueblo voters, I recommend not reading the fine print on the "Secrecy Envelope" unless you're a first-time voter in Pueblo who registered by mail. This small subset of voters, and no one else, must provide proof of identification. One of the following will suffice:
Valid Colorado driver's license, Department of Revenue ID card, U.S. passport, federal or state employee or military photo ID, valid pilot's license, copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck of other government document showing name and address.
The list goes on: Medicare or Medicaid card, certified birth certificate or certified document of naturalization as a U.S. citizen.
Finally, the "Secrecy Envelope" goes into a return envelope that includes an "Affidavit of Voter," which the voter must sign and fill in the day's date before mailing. Oh, by the way, there's one more thing. If the voter is disabled or otherwise unable to make a signature, there's a space for a witness to affirm watching the person put down his or her mark.
None of the above is meant to confuse voters who may already be a little perplexed by having to vote twice, in two different places, to fully exercise their franchise this year.
Voting by mail tends to be more complex than voting at the polls for a simple reason: Election judges are available at the polling places to offer their help, if needed.
It's a good reason for Pueblo city voters to say "yes" to Question B, which would eliminate the conflict between state and municipal elections in odd-numbered years once and for all. It also would save the city's $150,000 expense of a separate mail ballot in future.
http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1130830962/4 |
