November 06, 2006 01:29 AM UTC

Progressive Voters Ahead with 1% Edge As Colorado Heats Way Up on Election Issues

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• by: lysanzia

-by Lys Anzia / Nov. 5, 2006

SurveyUSA through KUSA-TV has made one more sweep of the Colorado polls on Colorado Amendment 43.

In an Oct. 30 poll and Nov. 2 release the survey says that, “Of all Colorado ballot measures, Amendment 43, about marriage, is the most fiercely fought.”

“6 weeks ago, the measure was tied, 25% Certain to vote “Yes,” 25% Certain to vote “No,” and 50% Not Certain. Today, the measure remains tied: 40% Certain to vote “Yes,” 41% Certain to vote “No,” and now 19% Not Certain how they will vote. Republicans favor. Democrats oppose. Independents split, but among Independents, opposition is growing faster than support. Males split. Females split. Whites split. Both sides will need every vote in order to carry this measure. “

With the neck and neck tally of 41% No on Amendment 43 and 40% Yes on the amendment, Colorado voters are in for a battle to the finish with the Nov. 7 election results on the controversial marriage amendment.

Luckily many people in the districts are being given a choice, too, in how they would like to vote.

In addition to allowing voters to use the new, and possibly problematic, computer electronic voting machines many districts are allowing voters to make their votes using an old fashioned paper ballot. This ballot is the old fashioned “fill in the box” version and will be hand counted.

If the electronic and paper tallies don’t match, the paper ballot is used, said Deputy Attorney General Maurice Knaizer, who is representing Secretary of State Gigi Dennis. 

“The problems with electronic voting aren’t necessarily new, yet we’re still not ready for the midterms. During the 2004 presidential election, one voting machine in a Columbus, Ohio, suburb reportedly added nearly 3,900 additional votes to Bush’s total. Officials caught the machine’s error because only 638 voters cast presidential ballots at that precinct, but in a heavily populated district, can we really be sure the votes will be counted correctly?” said Lou Dobbs in a Sept. 21 article for CNN.

Over the past few days during early voting a higher trend toward the use of paper ballots in Boulder County seems likely.

“Overall early voting is on the rise in Colorado. We have general information from clerk and recorders who have said they are getting more and more interest in early voting as the years go by. Voters are getting more used to it,” said Dana Williams from the Office of the Secretary of State.

Political parties in the state are as varied as you can get.

Parties who are currently registered with the Office of the Secretary of State include, the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, the Colorado Republican Party, the American Constitutional Party, the Green Party, the Colorado Reform Party, the Pro-Life Party and the Gun-Owners’ Party.

Current party affiliations of registered voters in the state of Colorado are:

Republican – 1,066,956

Democrat – 896,861

Unaffiliated – 999,552

Libertarian – 6,555

Green – 4,946

Other – 975

Total: 2,975,845

On Tuesday, Nov. 7 counting the vote tally may not be immediate. If any races are close a re-count of the votes may be mandated.

Important Dates to Remember in the Colorado 2006 Election Voting Process:

October 23 – Early Voting Starts (Contact your County Clerk and Recorder for details.)
November 7 – 2006 Election Day
November 27 – Last day for County Clerks to submit election results to the Secretary of State.
December 1 – Last day for the Secretary of State to total returns and order recounts.
December 1 – Secretary of State will have official election results available on the “Elections Center” website.
December 7 – Last day to complete a recount.
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Sources for this article are KUSA-TV, Rocky Mountain News, SurveyUSA, CNN News and Colorado Secretary of State Elections Center.
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