Coffman Goes After Parolee Voting

Colorado's secretary of state and Pueblo County's clerk are from different political parties, but they have identified a common enemy in an election bill making its way through the Legislature.

The bill, SB83, started out with the support of Secretary of State Mike Coffman and the county clerks' association, including Pueblo Clerk Gilbert Ortiz Jr. In its original form, it would have permitted voting centers at a ratio of one voting center for every 10,000 voters

But when legislators amended the bill to require one voting center for every 5,000 voters, Ortiz said, "You start losing cost-effectiveness."

And when the bill was amended to attempt to allow felons on parole from prison to vote, Coffman said, "That raises serious constitutional issues. I'll ask the governor for a veto if that passes, and I believe the attorney general will, too."

Because of the parole issue, the bill was sent back to the Judiciary Committee on Friday.

Pueblo Chieftain

The bill was sent to committee on Friday to clarify a constitutionality question.