Aspen Times: El Jebel gives electronic voting thumbs down, Delays drove voters away

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

Note #1: El Jebel, 20 miles from Aspen, voted heavily democratic (see stats below)
Note #2: I am one of the poll watchers for the Democratic party, mentioned in the story.

The Aspen Times:El Jebel gives electronic voting thumbs down
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20061110/NEWS/111100051
Delays drove voters away

By Scott Condon
November 10, 2006
SNIP:
Eagle County's top election official said she wants to avoid future delays like those that plagued polling places such as El Jebel in Tuesday's election.

Eagle County Clerk Teak Simonton said she wants to purchase additional electronic voting machines, which were put into service this year. Extra machines are needed in the busier precincts "and El Jebel certainly qualifies," said Simonton.

Voters waited up to an hour to cast their ballots at El Jebel, according to Ken Ransford and Jon Barnes, poll watchers for the Democratic party. Ransford said that created problems for some voters. One man had to leave to pick up his kids after school, according to Ransford. He was uncertain if that voter ever made it back to the polls.

Another man tried to vote in the morning but left to go to work because the line was so long, Ransford said. That man returned at 7:02 p.m. but was turned away by election judges. State law mandates that people must be waiting in line as of 7 p.m.


Democratic wins in Eagle County Colorado
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20061108/ELECTION/61108012
Here’s a list of Democratic candidates who carried Eagle County Nov. 7. Candidates and issues in with asterisk were elected.

• Governor: Bill Ritter*

• Second Congressional District: Mark Udall*

• Colorado House of Representatives District 56: Dan Gibbs*

• Secretary of State: Ken Gordon

• State Treasurer: Cary Kennedy*

• Attorney General: Fern O’Brien

• County Commissioner: Sara Fisher*

• County Assessor: Mark Chapin*

• Referendum I (domestic partnerships): 61 percent yes

• Amendment 43 (marriage amendment): 57 percent no

• Amendment 44 (legalize marijuana): 56 percent yes