Inmates Get Chance To Vote

Thanks to the great work from Carol Peeples, the information has been received by jails all over Colorado about how people who are waiting to go to court can vote from jail.

BY NATE TAYLOR
With fewer than 40 days before Election Day, the Larimer County Detention Center is doing its part to make sure inmates who can vote have the chance to register.

Working with the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, the detention center has been promoting the registration process encouraging inmates to take advantage of their right to vote.

Detention Program Manager Terri Morrison said eight inmates have asked for the paperwork to register to vote. Of those eight, only four have been confirmed eligible to vote.

"We've advertised (voter registration) as well as we possibly can," Morrison said.

"Ultimately we have to leave the responsibility to register up to each individual inmate," she said.

Despite having a small number of inmates interested in registering to vote, Director of Inmate Services Laurie Stolen said no inmates had asked to register to vote in the past eight years.

"We definitely have some people in the facility who are eligible to vote, but just like people in the public, it's their choice," Stolen said.

About six inmates asked to register after last week's "Character First" assembly with state Rep. John Kefalas (D-Fort Collins).

Morrison said the estimated 40 inmates who attended asked Kefalas several questions ranging from his party affiliation to his position on ballot issues.

"They really gave him a good run with their questions," Stolen said.

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election is Monday.

Inmates eligible to vote include pre-trial detainees facing charges on a felony or misdemeanor or those serving time for misdemeanors.