staging.rockymountainvoice.com

Menu

State

Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Here’s how to use BallotTrax to safeguard your vote in Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In Colorado, voters can ensure transparency and increase self-awareness with BallotTrax, an online ballot tracking tool which provides real-time updates on the status of your ballot. Are you signed up for it yet? If not, following is some detail. Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross emphasizes the system’s importance, especially in light of recent fraudulent ballot-casting concerns. BallotTrax empowered voters to reach out to Gross when discrepancies arose. “The voters were notified, they contacted our office, which is absolutely what they should be doing,” she said.  Because these voters had registered with Ballotrax and were monitoring notifications, they were able to take swift action, helping Mesa County officials to inv...
Read More
Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Panel at Colorado Mesa debates merits, concerns with Prop. 131, the ranked-choice voting measure

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Imagine if your vote could genuinely reflect your voice. Some argue Proposition 131, the ranked-choice voting measure, can do just that. During a Grand Junction event hosted by Restore the Balance and Colorado Mesa University, both proponents and opponents of the measure debated the proposition. Panelists tackled tough questions about ranked-choice voting's potential to enhance democracy, versus the risk of confusion at the polls. Following is some of the key discussion between the panel, from Phil Izon, a prominent figure in Alaska’s efforts to repeal ranked-choice voting, to Kent Thiry, who heads up the support side of the Colorado proposition. From left, Josh Daniels, Sheila Reiner, Dr. Tim Casey, Kent Thiry, and Maeve Suns...
Read More
The outcome of Colorado legislative races will have far-reaching implications
No Comments
CBS Colorado, State

The outcome of Colorado legislative races will have far-reaching implications

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Congress has passed about 100 bills over the last two years, while Colorado's state legislature has passed nearly 1,000. From fixing our roads to funding our schools, state legislatures touch almost every facet of our lives. And yet, nearly 90% of people surveyed by Cambridge University don't know who their state representative is. But Super PACs know who's running and, according to The Colorado Sun, they've poured $8 million into the races that will determine what gets done -- and doesn't get done -- at the Colorado State Capitol next year. "This is where the action is really on the state level. When you have over 500 bills passed a year, they're doing something. It may not be what everyone wants to see, but it's something," said CBS Colorado Dem...
Read More
In two weeks, $6.6 million was raised for 14 ballot issues on the Colorado ballot
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

In two weeks, $6.6 million was raised for 14 ballot issues on the Colorado ballot

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics In just under two weeks, the issue committees battling over most of the 14 statewide ballot issues have collectively raised more than $6.6 million. The most fundraising between Oct. 10 and Monday is Colorado Voters First, which backs Proposition 131, the open primary/ranked choice voting measure. Ben Walton, of the Walton family that owns Wal-Mart, donated $1 million on Oct. 18 to the pro-131 committee. That brings his total to $2 million. Through Oct. 9, the committee had already raised $10.8 million. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Coloradans can ride the RTD for free to vote early today and on Election Day
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Coloradans can ride the RTD for free to vote early today and on Election Day

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Some voters along the Front Range can take advantage of fare-free rides with the Regional Transportation District to vote in-person or at a ballot drop-off location. Debra A. Johnson, the general manager and CEO of the RTD, and RTD Board Member Peggy Catlin, along with election officials, announced on Friday two no-fare travel days on RTD. There will be no fare for users on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and also on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election Day is Nov. 5, and Oct. 29 marks National Vote Early Day. Colorado voters may find their nearest ballot drop box or voting center by visiting GoVoteColorado.gov, and can use RTD’s trip planner to find the best route to get there.
Read More
Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’
No Comments
Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Mesa County to Secretary Griswold: ‘This is our community and our investigation’

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The Mesa County elections office is investigating a potential case of election fraud, Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross announced Thursday, just moments after a press release vividly detailing the case was sent to the media from Secretary of State Jena Griswold's office. "While we understand the secretary of state’s desire to make public statements, this is our community and our investigation," Gross said. Thirteen minutes earlier, Griswold had released specific information pertaining to the investigation and a statement to the media. "It is critical that we follow proper procedures to ensure a thorough and effective investigation without tipping off those involved," Gross said. "The people of Mesa County deserve transparency and accountabili...
Read More
Group opposed to ranked-choice voting warns it will make elections less secure
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Group opposed to ranked-choice voting warns it will make elections less secure

By Brady Knox | Colorado Politics, via Washington Examiner An anti-ranked choice voting group warned that ballot initiatives in favor of the practice would make elections less secure. Eight states and the District of Columbia will have ballot initiatives related to ranked choice voting. RCV is a method of voting where voters can vote for multiple candidates in order of preference. While activists praise the method as being more fair and allowing voters' voices to be better heard, opponents making up the Stop RCV Coalition, such as Honest Elections Project Executive Director Jason Snead, argue that the process serves only to confuse voters. "Ranked choice voting is a convoluted scheme that confuses voters," he said. "Across the country, millions of citizens...
Read More
Overbeck: Don’t align with teachers’ unions against Amendment 80 for school choice
No Comments
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Overbeck: Don’t align with teachers’ unions against Amendment 80 for school choice

By Joy Overbeck | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice From the Strange Bedfellows Department: the Christian Homeschool Educators of Colorado (CHEC) have joined with the sworn enemies of school choice, including teachers unions, the National Education Association (NEA) the Colorado Educators Association (CEA), and the Colorado Democratic Party to work against School Choice (Amendment 80) on the ballot.  For nearly 35 years, CHEC has championed parents’ school choice, helping families find Christian homeschool resources and comply with the state of Colorado’s homeschool laws. For far longer, the NEA, the CEA, and other groups working tirelessly against Amendment 80, like the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and even the Parent-Teach...
Read More
Barry & O’Reilly: Vote ‘NO’ on Prop. 131 and say you don’t want ranked-choice voting
No Comments
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Barry & O’Reilly: Vote ‘NO’ on Prop. 131 and say you don’t want ranked-choice voting

By James Barry and Chuck O'Reilly | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice With the passage of Proposition 131, the ranked-choice voting measure you may have heard about, petitions are the only way candidates will able to qualify for the ballot. Only candidates with big money supporting them will be able to pay canvassers enough money to stand in front of stores to get a sufficient number of voters to sign each candidate’s petition.  That’s right! Only candidates with enough money supporting them will be able to pay canvassers. All candidates will need large amount of money to pay their way onto the ballot.  As a result, those candidates are beholding to those donors. Why? Gone are the days when we gathered with our neighbors to discuss candidates at our caucuses and...
Read More
Pastor Bob: Don’t be an Adam. Be a Christ-like person and vote.
No Comments
Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Pastor Bob: Don’t be an Adam. Be a Christ-like person and vote.

By Rev. Robert Babcox | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice I find it odd that we have to beg people to fulfill their Christian, as well as civic, duty. Ever since Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802, there has been a decline in Christians involving themselves in political decisions. For example, Christians all over the state of Colorado are upset because Amendment 79 is on the ballot, yet what have they done to convince anyone that it shouldn’t be? Up to 50% of evangelical Christians are either not registered or don’t even vote, and yet they complain about the results. If every self-admitting Christian voted, the outcome in this state would be far different. Oh, I know most (not all) politicians are slippery snakes, and you don’t want to be around them ...
Read More