FACE THE STATE
DENVER — Secretary of State Bernie Buescher is soliciting citizen input for a “Best Practices and Vision” elections advisory commission. Lucky for you, experience at the ballot box is all you need to meet the minimum qualifications for appointment.
In a Friday press release, Buescher outlined his plans for the commission. He is looking for 11 people “consisting of county, municipal and special district election administrators, political parties and other members of the public.”
Last November’s state election was highly scrutinized for a variety of reasons, ranging from voter fraud to voting equipment malfunctions, some of which may have resulted in lost or uncounted votes. Buescher is hoping the commission will provide constructive feedback on how to make the voting procedure less complicated and more accessible.
This isn’t the first attempt at reform in recent years. Last year, Gov. Bill Ritter signed a bill carried by former Senate Majority leader Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Denver, to establish the state’s Election Reform Commission, a body designed to study voting systems and recommend changes to the state legislature.
Buescher’s spokesman Rich Coolidge says the new commission will “pick up” after work done by the previous commission.
“The Secretary of State’s Best Practices and Vision Commission will cast a broader net by including more members from different backgrounds and expertise,” wrote Coolidge in an e-mail to Face The State “It will also have more time to review and identify best practices and efficiencies used in Colorado’s election process.”
The term is just one year long, and applications are due by June 15. For more details, visit the Secretary of State’s Web site.

Distributed by Colorado Capitol Reporters