June 13, 2011 08:52 PM UTC

Gessler: Not Intended To Be a Factual Statement?

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• by: Colorado Pols

It’s been a couple of months since we last discussed Secretary of State Scott Gessler’s controversial “awareness campaign” around the threat of tens of thousands thousands hundreds maybe a hundred? illegally registered noncitizen voters in Colorado. After the legislation Gessler pushed to deal with this “problem” was killed, it was widely reported that the normal rate of naturalization of citizens during the time period that Gessler “studied” easily accounts for the figures he cited as evidence of a problem.

A bigger credibility issue is the different numbers that Gessler confusingly bandied about in the course of his various press conferences and testimony, both in Denver and in Washington, DC. The different numbers invoked by Gessler without adequate explanation of their meaning–11,000 noncitizens, but only 5,000 who “might” have voted, and only 106 that Gessler is “mostly sure” there is some “problem” with–were freely misrepresented by illegal immigration opponents. Gessler didn’t really seem interested in correcting the misrepresentation of his numbers: after all, it’s impossible to claim that 106 voters represents a problem worth jeopardizing the voting rights of tens of thousands. Not to mention it’s already a federal crime to vote as a noncitizen.

Well, as the Greeley Gazette reported this weekend, unwinding this little campaign is proving expensive credibility-wise. Makes you wonder–for legislation that was never going to pass? Which gave Gessler authority he already reportedly has? Was it worth all this “clarifying?”

Following Congressional testimony that 5,000 illegals may have voted in the last election, a spokesman for Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler contacted the Gazette to explain his remarks.

The Gazette reported that Gessler told Congress nearly 12,000 illegal aliens were registered to vote and up to 5,000 may have cast votes in the last general election.

Andrew Cole, a spokesman with Gessler’s office, said he was attempting to make a point that our current system does not have the capability to effectively confirm with certainty the eligibility of voters in the state.

In his statement before Congress, Gessler was able to say they were only “nearly certain that 106 individuals are improperly registered to vote.” Cole explained the 5,000 number arose from individuals who were identified as being ineligible to vote at the time they obtained their driver’s license…

But as you know, some 32,000 people became United States citizens in Colorado during this period. And once you know that, you know that this 5,000 number is highly questionable at best. The title of the above article is “Gessler’s office clarifies remarks about 5,000 illegals voting in last election,” but we really don’t see where they’ve clarified much.

In fact, it’s probably better for Gessler if you stay confused.