this is CRAZY -- Denver goes from 283 polling places to 55 vote centers???

[bobbieinok]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/10/16/2159/0391

Denver Election Crisis: It's real and you can do something about it...
by dugrless
Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 06:05:09 PM PDT

I don't go much in for doomsday scenarios. I generally believe that the people who run elections are decent people who want every vote to count, and for elections to run smoothly, and that for the most part they do.
That's why when I heard that over 40,000 Colorado voters could be kept from voting in 2006, I had to run the numbers myself...

Last election cycle, Denver County had 283 polling places for about 350,000 registered voters. This November the number of registered voters is about the same, but instead of 283 places to vote, there will be 55 vote centers, with a grand total of only 1,100 voting machines.

Of course, not every registered voter will vote. The Denver Election Commission (the governing body which makes all these decisions) estimates that a total of 185,000 Denver County voters--about 53%--will vote in the 2006 mid-term elections. Of those, it expects 120,000 to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Assuming that it takes each voter 10 minutes to vote, the county will be able to handle around 6,600 voters per hour. If voters are kind enough to spread themselves out evenly throughout the day and among the vote centers, then Denver County will be able to handle 79,200 voters on Election Day--or 40,800 fewer than, by the Denver Election Commission's own estimates, will want to vote on that day.

....

October 28th is the new November 7th! If you really like going to the polls, Saturday October 28th (Super Vote Saturday) is the only weekend day for early voting. You can do it from 10am until 6pm. Or, if you can't make it to Super Vote Saturday, click here for a list of Early Vote Centers and their hours of operation.

You may not vote at your regular polling place; contrary to what Denver Election Commission's publications imply, if you vote on Election Day you must vote at one of the 55 available vote centers.

more....

[acmavm]

1. Boy, they're pulling out all the stops to rig this one. Not only in Denver

either. New and untested machines (without paper verification) in Ohio. Glitches in testing in other places.

They just don't frigging care whether or not we know they're screwing us anymore, do they?

[hedda_foil]

2. Vote centers are a scam and Ohio is gawdawful ... ,but

Ohio does have paper verification. For what it's worth.

[SharonAnn]

3. Actually, that's not necessarily bad. They can stay open longer,

have more staff, etc.

Of course, if they're determined to corrupt that election, that can be done too.

[bananas]

4. Here's an idea

"Democrats! Use VIDEO PHONES to Document GOP Election Fraud"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2888059

[Canuckistanian]

5. They know the "values voters" may stay home this Nov.

They know that Repub voters are not exactly rushing out in droves this time.

So they're targeting likely 50/50 split areas, like urban Denver CO.

They're hoping the rural voters will carry the day for them.

[w4rma]

6. Long lines in Democratic urban centers. Thousands will decide not

to vote because the line is an hour long.

Short lines and plenty of voting equipment in Republican rural centers. Everyone who shows up will be in and out, fast vote.

[paulk]

14. Denver is not a 50/50 split

My precinct (Fremont) is 85% registered Democrat and less than 5% Republican.

Denver voters need to vote absentee or be prepared to wait in line come election day.

This whole thing kind of stinks....

[autorank]

7. It's called VOTER SUPPRESSION... KR

I'm in Northern Virginia. It's a dense suburban region, very busy. There would be no reason to do these megaplex precincts here. It would screw everything up and people would be pissed off, royally.

This is just anotherway to keep people from voting, our people.

Shame shame shame

[Vitruvius]

8. It's also a nifty way to shut out poor voters without CARS --

set up a few "vote centers" that most people must DRIVE to.

[Oreo]

9. 18 Amendments on the ballot

I think that's the right number. We'll have 10 minutes to vote on all of the candidates PLUS a18 badly worded amendments.

We have a pro gay marriage amendment AND an anti gay marriage amendment. Denver also bought failed Sequoia machines from Chicago's 2004 elections.

And on top of that or Secretary of State Gigi Dennis is a crazed whacko right winger that recently chaired a fund raiser for Bob Beauprez that Bush attended.

Should be interested!

Vote early! Polls are open the week before including Saturday!!

[Demeter]

10. So Now the Question Is: What's Wrong With Colorado?

Kansans seem to have seen the light and are turning on the Fundies en masse--winning back America, one state at a time is going to be painful and slow!

[techtrainer]

16. This was done by the Denver Election Commission, not Colorado.

The Denver Election Commission (which is overwhelmingly Democratic) voted unanimously to implement this new system. The state of Colorado had noting to do with it.

[Gman]

11. And we were puzzled why Rove and Bush ain't worried

they know a whole lot more than this that makes them smile and not need a plan.

[crim son]

12. They've done the same thing in Bangor, Maine.

Reduced the number of polling places. My first thought was that it was for security purposes, as we are a relatively small city and the longest I've ever had to wait in line to vote was about fifteen minutes. This year it may be thirty. We'll see.

[yurbud]

13. Does Colorado have a Democratic attorney general? He should file

charges against county clerks and sec of state for violation voting rights.

[paulk]

15. No - Ken Salazar was the AG

when he was elected Senator, our Republican governor was able to appoint a Republican to replace him .

There are some encouraging things happening, though -

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_4413587

A court ruled that some of the decisions made by the sec of state pertaining to the election were illegal.

[EFerrari]

17. This has been happening all over the country. n/t