Voter Services 2011

League of Women Voters^®
of La Plata County

VS_2011

Information concerning La Plata County voter information and services in 2011
To reference the 2007-2010 Voter Services activities, click the Voter Services Archive pages to the left.

Local Election Results. Upcoming Elections. Voter Registration. Where to Vote. Upcoming Events. CO Ballot Initiatives. Ballot Forums. CO Judges Info. La Plata County Election News. Colorado Election News. US Voting News. Electronic Voting News. Correspondence. refs & links. Past Events.

Local Election Results

*11/15/11 Durango Herald:Ignacio schools OK $50M bond Recount also necessary to fill final Bayfield School Board seat By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer
One vote. That's all it took to determine the outcome of two regional races after both ended in a tie on Nov. 1. After a recount Monday, a $50 million bond measure for Ignacio School District passed by a vote of 524 to 523, while Janie Hoover won a seat on the Bayfield School Board by a vote of 753 to 752.
La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee Parker called the results "amazing." Archuleta County also performed a recount Monday because both school districts cross county lines. The final results include numbers from both counties. The recounts were mandated because the difference in votes in both races in the Nov. 1 election was less than half a percent. The daylong process Monday was performed by the 10-member canvas board that also counted votes on election night, Parker said. Legal council from the Secretary of State's office also reviewed the process, she said.
Ignacio school bond. Celebrations were already under way Monday at the Ignacio School District administration office. The 20-year bond will pay for construction of a new middle school and renovations to Ignacio's intermediate, junior high and high schools. The district will vacate the elementary school because of air-quality concerns and will tackle asbestos issues in all of the school buildings. At the end of the three-to four-year process, the students will consolidate into three schools instead of four...

*Click La Plata County offical election results as of 11/15/11 for results of the November 1, 2011 mail-in ballot election.

*Click Colorado Ballot issue results to view the statewide results for Ballot Issue 3A Tax increase-education

Upcoming Elections

Voter Registration

*Are you registered to vote? First, check your Colorado Voter registration status. This reference will also let you active your registration status, determine your voting precinct and/or change your voting information. Just click on the appropriate icon and enter your voter information.

Do you want to change your party, your address, your name? You may also register or change your registration at My Voter Information

*If you prefer to register by mail in Colorado, click CO Secretary of State registration and click on register to vote. Print the form and submit it by mail to the County Clerk for the county of your residence.

*If you would like an application for a permanent mail-in ballot to be mailed directly to you for each election overseen by the La Plata County Election Recorder's Office click permanent mail-in ballot.

Where to Vote

*To vote in an election that is not mail-in ballot only, you must be registered, know your precinct, and vote at the polling place assigned to your precinct.

*The November 1, 2011 election in La Plata County is a mail-in ballot only election. If you would like to check your registration status, please see the paragraph above.

*If you are not currently registered to vote in Colorado, see the register to vote paragraph above
*To find your precinct, click My Voter Information and answer the questions regarding name, address, and birthday. You will get your voter registration information returned. Note: The last two digits of the "Precinct Number" will be your precinct.

Upcoming Events

CO Ballot Initiatives

Ballot Forums

CO Judges Info

La Plata County Election News

*12/31/11 LWVLPC: If you think your vote doesn't count read So You Don't Think Your Vote Counts + Two Examples from the November Election

*10/12/11 Durango Herald:Shortfalls a primary issue By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer
Finances will be a major issue for the five candidates running for the Bayfield School Board.
Four of the candidates are running for three four-year terms, and one candidate is running uncontested for one two-year term. All board members are elected at-large. The election comes as education is experiencing deep funding cuts. More cuts in state funding are likely next year, and this year, the district has about 30 students fewer than it budgeted for, which means it will receive $150,000 to $200,000 less than expected in per-pupil revenue. The board also will be tasked with creating the district's next strategic plan, which will provide an overarching direction for Bayfield's schools for the next three to five years...

*10/12/11 Durango Herald:4 seats open on 9-R board By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer
Three of the four seats up for election on the Durango School District 9-R School Board will be contested. Board members run by district but are voted on at-large.
First on board members' agendas will be the task of finding the district's next superintendent. Bill Esterbrook is filling the position for one year until the board finds a permanent replacement for former superintendent Keith Owen. The district also is tasked with distributing $3.2 million that the district receives annually thanks to a mill-levy increase voters approved last November for technology, teacher pay and maintaining small class sizes. Another focus will be on implementing Senate Bill 191, the state's teacher-effectiveness law that will go into effect in 2014. Each term is for four years, and board members receive no monetary compensation for their time...

*8/31/11 Durango Herald:Durango, Bayfield prepare for school board elections By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer
A total of six seats will be contested in the school board elections for Durango School District 9-R and the Bayfield School District on Nov. 1. The election is a mail-in ballot.
Three seats on the Durango board will be contested. Greg Spradling, a former principal of Durango High School, and Kristy Rodri, a former executive assistant to the superintendent and school board, will run for the District A seat currently held by Bruce Anderson. Anderson is not term-limited, but he will not run again.
Carla Mulkey, a former counselor at Needham Elementary, and Stephanie Moran, the coordinator of the GED program at the Durango Adult Education Center, will run for the District B seat held by Board President Floyd Patterson. Patterson is term-limited.
Current board member Julie Levy will run uncontested in District D.
Wendy Rice, the current board member for District G, will be running again. Suzanne Carlson, a mother of three Florida Mesa students and an attorney of criminal and family law, will run against Rice.
Jane Schold, the executive assistant to the superintendent and school board, said she was thrilled with the interest the race had generated. "It helps validate the importance of the school board," she said.

Six candidates will run for four open seats in Bayfield School District. Current board members Mike Derrickson and Don Mooney will run again. Janie Hoover, Gene Carlson, Levi Mead and Timothy Stumpf, a parent who works with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe's Growth Fund, are the other candidates. Mooney is the only candidate who filed for a two-year term. The other five candidates will run against each other for three four-year terms.

The Ignacio School Board canceled elections. Current board member Toby Roderick will be running uncontested. Agnes Sanchez and Troy Webb will be filling the seats vacated by Chris Ribera and Betty Jo Quintana, who is term-limited. Sanchez graduated from the district and retired to Ignacio last year after more than 32 years teaching in New York and Connecticut. Webb has three children in Ignacio's schools and is the principal at an alternative high school, Charlie Y. Brown High School in Bloomfield, N.M.

The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will be hosting candidate forums in October. See the organization's website at http://lwvlaplata.org for more information.
*8/25/11 Durango Herald:Tax hike for schools makes ballot Measure would raise $536 million in 1st year By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
DENVER - Colorado voters will decide in November whether to raise their taxes to spare schools from further cuts. Secretary of State Scott Gessler announced Wednesday that Proposition 103 - a temporary tax hike - qualified for the ballot.
Supporters had turned in more than 142,000 signatures, and Gessler said his audit of a random sample determined that 98,369 were likely to be valid - well more than the 86,105 that petitioners needed to qualify for the ballot. The initiative's author, Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder, said he never really doubted his question would make the ballot...

*8/18/11 Durango Herald:Fire agency will go to voters for money Durango Fire & Rescue Authority seeks levy to restore '10 funding level By Shane Benjamin Herald Staff Writer
The Durango Fire Protection District will ask voters in November to approve a districtwide property tax that would raise taxes for most residents. The board of directors voted 6-1 Tuesday night to put the ballot question to voters.
The district has until Sept. 2 to draft the language of the referendum and submit it to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's Office, said Dan Noonan, chief of Durango Fire & Rescue Authority.

*8/14/11 Durango Herald: Tax vote possible on fire district Rescue Authority says more revenue needed to maintain services By Shane Benjamin Herald Staff Writer
Voters in the Durango Fire & Rescue Authority service area face a tough choice in November: approve a districtwide property tax or risk losing some fire and ambulance services.
"We're just asking to maintain the service level (residents) are currently receiving," DFRA Chief Dan Noonan said. "To do that, some people will have to pay a little bit more."
The district board will meet Tuesday to consider putting a ballot question to the voters. If approved, it would create a districtwide property tax of about 6.8 mills - or $217 per year on a $400,000 home.
The measure has support from a citizen-review committee, various divisions of the fire department and the Durango City Council...

*La Plata County Clerk and Recorder:Online Vehicle Registration Renewals/Voter Registration
I'm very pleased to announce La Plata County citizens can now renew their vehicle registration online. You may pay by credit card or e-check. If you do choose to utilize this service, I would really appreciate your feedback. I plan on doing a press release later next month to allow us time to perfect our procedures. http://co.laplata.co.us/departments_and_elected_officials/clerk_recorder
Also, remember you may register to vote, update your registration or request a mail in ballot online at http://www.govotecolorado.com. Election material is not forwardable so don't forget to update if you have moved or changed your mailing address. We are very pleased with the number of voters taking advantage of this paperless option!

Thank you,
Tiffany L Parker, La Plata County Clerk & Recorder
98 Everett St, Suite C Durango, Colorado 81303(970)382-6294

*8/17/11 Important Dates gleaned from SOS site on 2011 Election Calendar

3 Aug, Wed Earliest day for candidates for the office of school district director to circulate a nomination petition.( have letter to county and school secretaries with date of forum and address availability)
26 Aug, Fri Last day for candidates for the office of school district director to file a nomination petition
3 Oct, Mon Last day to register to vote (LTE regarding last day, 10-14 days ahead of this)
11 Oct, Tue First day mail/mail-in ballots may be sent to electors with an active request
14 Oct, Fri Deadline for the county clerk to send mail ballots
17 Oct, Mon Early voting begins at early voters' polling place
17 Oct, Mon Counting of ballots may begin 15 days prior to election
25 Oct, Tue Last day to apply for mail-in ballot if mailed
28 Oct, Fri Last day to apply for mail-in ballot if ballot is picked up in person
28 Oct, Fri Last day for early voting at the early voters' polling place
1 Nov, Tue ELECTION DAY (LTE regarding election day and forums - on or before Oct 11, date first ballots mailed)
Dates also of interest
1 Sep, Wed Last day for the SOS to issue statements of sufficiency or insufficiency for initiative petitions
20 Sep, Tue Last day for the designated election official to deliver ballot issue notices to the County Clerk
7 Dec. Wed Last day to affiliate with a political party in order to vote in the precinct caucus if held on February
2011ElectionCalendar

Colorado Election News

*12/4/11 Durango Herald:Colo. elections chief doesn't mind hot water Gessler looks to keep noncitizens from voting polls By KRISTEN WYATT Associated Press
DENVER + Colorado's lightning-rod elections chief, Scott Gessler, smiles when asked if he's surprised how often he ruffles feathers. The Republican secretary of state doesn't seem to mind the question.
In office less than a year, Gessler has become a political villain for Colorado's left and a folk hero for the right. He's raised eyebrows + even in the halls of Congress + for his efforts to root out voter fraud and to rewrite what he considers confusing campaign-finance guidelines.
Opponents say Gessler has darker motivations: suppressing votes and making it easier for big-money political interests to influence elections. Gessler shrugs off his critics but readily acknowledges that he wants to reshape Colorado election law. "I came in with a lot of ideas on how things could be done better," said Gessler, a lawyer who represented right-leaning political groups before he defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2010.

*11/12/11 Durango Herald:Colorado a super battleground Denver judge boosts Democrats with new congressional map By IVAN MORENO Associated Press

DENVER + A new congressional district map chosen by a Denver judge paves the way for big spending on high-profile races next year because Democrats will then have a chance to unseat two Republican incumbents, political analysts said Friday.
Democrats would get a huge boost from the new boundaries for the 6th Congressional District represented by Rep. Mike Coffman in the southern Denver suburbs. The GOP has held that seat since it was created after the 1980 census. And the sprawling, rural 3rd District on the Western Slope held by Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, would become more competitive than it already is.
Former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll said the proposed map raises the state's status in 2012, potentially attracting big national donors to a place already being courted by President Barack Obama in his re-election bid. "It definitely makes it more interesting. It changes the political landscape in Colorado in a much more competitive direction," said Carroll, a Democrat. "We were already going to be a battleground state, but now we're a super battleground state."
On Thursday, Denver District Judge Robert Hyatt chose a Democrat-sponsored map for Colorado's congressional districts for the next 10 years. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed after the Legislature couldn't agree on districts this spring. Republicans criticized the ruling, but GOP state Chairman Ryan Call has said he's optimistic the party can win most of Colorado's seven congressional seats and have a shot at defeating incumbent Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter in the 7th District. Call said a decision about whether to appeal the ruling will come next week...

*11/11/11 Durango Herald:Judge sides with Dems on maps 3rd District remains competitive for Pace-Tipton congressional race By IVAN MORENO Associated Press
DENVER + The GOP stronghold held by U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman could be up for grabs after a Denver district judge sided Thursday with Democrats in their proposed redrawing of congressional lines. Judge Robert Hyatt's ruling makes Coffman's suburban Denver district more Democratic by incorporating all of Aurora, the state's third-largest city. It also moves Republican-leaning portions of Coffman's district into the eastern plains seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner. Coffman is facing a challenge from Democratic state Rep. Joe Miklosi, who entered the race after Democrats proposed making Coffman's seat more competitive.
Republicans have held Coffman's 6th Congressional District for decades. Hyatt said the Democrat's proposal makes three districts competitive, with each nearly evenly split among Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters. Those districts are the 3rd, the 6th, and the 7th. Hyatt said the idea is to make candidates work hard for votes and "engage as many people as possible."
State Democratic House Leader Sal Pace is challenging U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton in the 3rd District, which includes Durango, Cortez and Pagosa Springs. Democratic state Senate President Brandon Shaffer is challenging Gardner in the 4th District, which still leans Republican under the Democratic proposal. For Tipton, R-Cortez, the changes will be minimal...

*10/11/11 Durango Herald:Congressional redistricting trial begins By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
DENVER + Some of Colorado's sharpest political lawyers offered opening arguments this morning in a trial that will help shape the state's partisan landscape for the next decade. Denver Chief Judge Robert Hyatt has set aside the next two weeks to hear evidence about Congressional districts, which need to be redrawn every 10 years to equalize their populations.
Democrats and Republicans have submitted rival plans, and lawyers for Denver-area governments, Hispanic groups and the Pueblo district attorney also were on hand to promote their interests. Republicans want to stick as closely as possible to the current map. Republican lawyer Richard Westfall said the Democratic map would put 1.5 million voters in a different Congressional district. "The lines you're being asked to move affect real people and real communities," Westfall said.
Democratic lawyer Mark Grueskin said the current map, drawn in 2001, should not be "deified." "This is 2011, and things have changed," Grueskin said...

*10/4/11 Durango Herald Opinion: Clear up inactive voters issue Do not create roadblocks for eligible electors
In a participatory democracy, participation is, by definition, a good thing. Government should do nothing to hinder eligible voters from casting their ballots. But Coloradans who have not voted since the 2008 presidential election may find themselves unable to vote in the next one + or in this November's off-year election + if they don't do something to reactivate their voter status. Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler has sued the Denver county clerk over a plan to continue sending mail ballots to voters who did not vote in the last even-year general election.
A key word there is "continue." Until this year, clerks were required to send ballots to "inactive" voters. It was an expensive practice because only a small number + between 2 percent and 10 percent + of those voters return their ballots. That is enough voters to change the results of a close election.
Election fraud is a real issue and a serious one, although Colorado has relatively little. Gessler is to be commended for working to reduce it, but this method potentially disenfranchises too many people who have the right to vote...

*10/2/11 Ensuring fair elections in Colorado Colorado Secretary of State sent this bulletin at 09/29/2011 12:01 PM MDT
Last week I challenged Denver County's decision to mail ballots to inactive voters, which directly conflicts with state law. My office worked with Denver prior to the lawsuit and I warned the clerk that she was running afoul of the law and was jeopardizing the uniformity of the upcoming statewide election. I knew the traditional crowd of political opponents would leverage my decision for partisan gain + and they're entitled to their opinions, but not to the facts. I decided to challenge Denver in court to ensure fair elections in Colorado, where everyone is treated the same and we have protections against fraud.
It's the legislature's job to provide the framework for conducting fair and uniform elections across the state. County clerks derive their direct authority from state election laws. Without this uniformity in applying the law, voters would be treated differently depending on where they lived in the state.
Currently, Colorado law only authorizes clerks to automatically send ballots to active voters. It does not authorize clerks to automatically send ballots to inactive voters...

*10/1/11 Durango Herald:Voting lawsuit draws fire from D.C. State's Republican elections official riles Democrats over mail ballots By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
DENVER + A legal dispute between Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler and the clerk and recorder in Denver is drawing national attention.
Gessler, a Republican, sued Denver clerk Debra Johnson, a Democrat, for her plans to send out mail ballots for this fall's election to inactive voters + people who haven't voted since 2008.
On Wednesday, a pair of Democratic congressmen asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Gessler, alleging that he is trying to keep people from voting...

*8/22/11: Click The Colorado Reapportionment Commission Comes to Town to view a written report of the August 12, 2011 the Colorado Reapportionment Commission open session in Durango to take comments about the Commission's Preliminary Plans for House and Senate Districts.
The Commission is the body established in the Colorado Constitution and mandated to redistrict for the State Senate and House every ten years after the census. The Commission has been traveling the state to hold similar hearings and four of the eleven Commissioners were in attendance in Durango, including the only commission member from the Western Slope, who chaired the meeting.
*To listen to an audio recording of each session including the Friday, August 12 session in Durango, click Colorado Reapportionment Commission audio
*6/22/11 Durango Herald editorial:State redistricting> `Resort district' proposal raises questions
A proposal to redraw Southwest Colorado's state House districts raises interesting questions about the redistricting process. In particular, what constitutes a community of interest, and what should residents of a legislative district have in common?
Every 10 years, after the constitutionally mandated U.S. Census, the legislative districts are redrawn to reflect population changes and keep districts' population in approximate balance.
As part of this process, Colorado established an 11-member commission to redraw district lines. Made up of five Republicans and five Democrats with an unaffiliated chairman, the commission is an attempt to minimize the partisanship that inevitably accompanies redistricting as each party tries to redraw districts for political advantage.
Monday, the commission rejected a Democratic proposal to redraw Southwest Colorado state House districts that would have put Durango and Telluride in one district with Cortez in another.
Cortez now is in the 59th House District + just barely. With it are Silverton, Durango, Pagosa Springs and everything south to the New Mexico line. Telluride now is in the 58th District, along with much of western Montezuma County and including Dove Creek, Montrose, Ouray and north to take in part of the Grand Mesa.
The argument the Democrats put forward was that lumping Telluride and Durango together would create a "San Juan Mountain district. The thinking is, as the plan's author, Rep. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, put it, "Those resort communities talk the same talk and have the same point of view."...

*6/19/11 Durango Herald editorial:Redistricting Dividing the county raises interesting issues
La Plata County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee is right in recommending that county commissioners approve holding off redrawing commissioner district lines until 2013. She is also dealing with a complex situation that may warrant the attention of the state Legislature.
The immediate cause of her decision was the fact that redistricting this year would leave Commissioner Wally White out of a job. That would not only be unfair to him but would leave District 3 without a commissioner and to some degree disenfranchise those who voted for him.
Waiting until 2013 to redistrict might solve that. White is term limited and cannot run for re-election, so District 3 will get a new commissioner in any case.
There are some interesting twists nonetheless. La Plata County commissioners are elected at-large but represent districts. (Bigger counties or those that have adopted home rule can do things differently.) If a commissioner dies, moves out of the district + or the district itself is redrawn to no longer include the commissioner's home + the commissioner is out. When that happens, the departing commissioner's political party appoints a vacancy committee that then has 10 days to fill the spot. If it fails to do so, the governor picks someone...

*6/16/11 Durango Herald:Redrawing local lines may be delayed County clerk says redoing districts now would unseat current commissioner By Heather Scofield Herald Staff Writer
Despite lopsided population numbers in county commission districts, redrawing La Plata County commissioners' boundaries may wait until 2013
The latest census shows the county's three commission districts are uneven in number, but County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee said Wednesday she won't be redrawing the lines this year. "It would unseat a current county commissioner, and I wouldn't recommend that," Lee said. Instead, she will ask commissioners to approve a decision to leave the district lines as is until 2013, when the county board's makeup could change...

*5/9/11 Durango Herald:Redistricting knot stays unsolved House GOP differ over Denver, Eastern Plains By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
DENVER + Republicans and Democrats moved further away from a compromise on new congressional districts Monday with only two days left to reach a deal.
House Republicans and Senate Democrats have rival plans, which they moved forward Monday. Any compromise would have to happen by Wednesday, when the Legislature adjourns for the year. "We will miss a historic opportunity to draw these districts if we fail in these next 48 hours, and that is unfortunate," said Speaker of the House Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. McNulty's side introduced a new map Monday that moves further away from a compromise position by changing lines in the Denver suburbs. The new Republicans' map would be better for Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, and worse for Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden.
Meanwhile, Democrats pushed their map, which the Senate debated late Monday night. The two maps are basically the same on the Western Slope, but they differ greatly in the Denver area and the Eastern Plains...,

*Colorado - The Official State Web Portal Colorado Congressional Redistricting

US Voting News

*12/14/11 NYTimes Opinion:Holder Speaks Up for Voting Rights
For months, the Justice Department has largely been silent as Republican-dominated legislatures in state after state made it harder for minorities, poor people and other Democratic-leaning groups to vote. On Tuesday, however, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. spoke out forcefully and promised to use the full weight of his department to ensure that new electoral laws are not discriminatory. To live up to that vow, he will have his hands full.
Republican lawmakers in more than a dozen states have recently enacted laws designed to limit Americans' access to the polls, often concentrating on voters -- blacks, Hispanics, students and the poor -- who showed up in large numbers in 2008 to elect Barack Obama. They have imposed strict voter-ID requirements, knowing that millions of people cannot easily meet them; eliminated early voting periods; and restricted registration drives. (Voter ID laws have been introduced in at least 34 states.)
These efforts, Mr. Holder said, have led many Americans "to believe that we are failing to live up to one of our nation's most noble, and essential, ideals." Quoting John Lewis, the Georgia congressman who was beaten in the 1960s while advocating voting rights for blacks, he said those rights are under attack by "a deliberate and systematic attempt" to prevent millions of voters from exercising their constitutional right to engage in democracy...

*6/30/11 The Impact of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 on the Administration of Elections for Federal Office 2009-2010 A Report to the 112th Congress June 30, 2011 by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

Electronic Voting News

*12/8/11 Durango Herald:Voting machine security questioned By Joe Hanel Herald Staff Writer
DENVER + Secretary of State Scott Gessler wants to make it easier for counties to comply with rules for electronic voting machines, but watchdogs say the changes increase the risk of hackers stealing an election. Gessler will hold a meeting today to discuss the changes, but plaintiffs in a 2006 lawsuit that led to the decertification of several voting machines did not wait to let loose with criticism.
Jeff Sherman, an Iraq veteran who worked on democracy-building in that country, said he is dismayed U.S. elections are vulnerable to fraud through voting machines...
Proposed changes include different requirements for tamper-proof seals on the machines and optional inspections by the secretary of state of county maintenance logs instead of mandatory inspections. Currently, election judges who notice a broken seal on a machine must report it to the secretary of state. Gessler would allow county clerks to handle the investigation. And the 10-page instruction manual the county clerks must follow to use the machines would be condensed to three to five pages.
La Plata County Clerk Tiffany Lee Parker was out of the office Wednesday and could not be reached...

*11/7/11 LWVLPC: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LWVLPC members:
We have just received an action alert from LWV regarding an upcoming senate appropriations debate which may result in the recommendation to terminate the Election Assistance Committee.

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The four EAC commissioners are appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. It has an annual budget of about $18 million, used in part to assist states to comply with HAVA.
EAC is an independent bipartisan commission whose mission includes:

Developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements
Adopting voluntary voting system guidelines
Serving as a national clearinghouse of information on election administration
Accrediting testing laboratories and certifying voting systems
Auditing the use of HAVA funds
As can be expected there are opposing views regarding the continued existence of the EAC, but LWV strongly believes that with a highly polarized electorate, and the anticipation of close election results, now is not the time to kill the only agency (created as a result of the contentious election of 2000) which is devoted to improving our election process. Please review and if you agree, take the action recommended below. Ellen Park LWVLPC Legislation Chair

*Subj: ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Senators -- Elections are Fundamental to Democracy

Soon there is likely to be a move to terminate the U.S. Election Assistance Commission as part of the Senate appropriations process. With many continuing threats to the right to vote, now is not the time to kill the only federal agency that devotes its full resources and attention to improving our elections.
This legislation has no bill number yet, and has not been debated. But the move to end the EAC is expected directly on the Senate floor very soon.

Tell your Senators to oppose the termination of the EAC. Elections are fundamental to a functioning democracy. The value of the EAC far outweighs its monetary costs; in fact, the costs of poorly run elections are intolerable. It is time for election administration to move into the 21st Century, not back toward the 19th.

TAKE ACTION

1.Send your Senators a message now. Tell them to oppose the termination of the EAC. Say that Congress should not turn its back on federal efforts to ensure election integrity, improve voter access to the polls, and improve election systems.

2.Send this alert to other concerned citizens -- your grassroots network, your friends and coworkers -- encourage them to contact their Senators.
League of Women Voters 1730 M Street, NW Washington, DC 20036

Correspondence from our Members

*10/20/11 LWVLPC:SCB 9R Forum - Durango brief summary of forum results by Gail Harris

*10/19/11 LWVLPC:SCB Forum - Bayfield brief summary of forum results by Ross Park

*10/17/11 LWVLPC: Click Oct 10 Issues forum to read about the recent ballot issue forum in Durango. by Lou Falkenstein, member of LWVLPC.

*7/3/11 Durango Herald editorial:Working together in contentious times By Stephanie Huss and Ellen Stein
How would you like to stand on Capitol Hill and speak frankly with your U.S. senator, congressman and members of the president's Cabinet?
Deborah Gangloff, Lana Chaddic, Sherri Dugdale, Stephanie Huss and Ellen Stein were offered that opportunity as five of the 100 Coloradans chosen statewide to attend the Colorado Capital Conference, co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., and Mesa State College, held June 15-17 in Washington, D.C.
The conference gave us an up-close and personal look at the federal legislative process. It was a unique opportunity to interact with decision-makers and issue experts in Washington and determine what, if anything, our leaders are doing about this nation's very real problems.
Colorado's congressional delegation hosted Wednesday evening's reception at the U.S. Capitol. Stein thanked Udall for his support of the Native American tuition waiver, continued federal funding for public broadcasting and his efforts to review provisions of the Patriot Act.
"It was refreshing to be reminded that amidst the political rancor, that substantive work is still getting done," she said...

Useful References & Links

*10/30/11 Durango Herald Opinion:Ignacio schools vote Bond issue needed to fund building projects
Like many school districts across the country, Ignacio School District 11-JTR has a long and growing list of facilities needs that require a significant investment to address. And like nearly every public entity across the country facing such a challenge, facing the prospect of asking voters to fund such an undertaking is no easy decision + let alone a sure bet. Nevertheless, the needs facing Ignacio's schools make doing so important. Voters should recognize that by approving Ignacio School District Ballot Issue 3A...

*10/11/11 LWVLPC: Click Nov ballot issue contacts to view pro and con contacts related to local and state ballot issues on the November La Plata County election ballot

*Information concerning the Colorado State ballot issues for the November 1, election can be found at CO State issues Nov 1 election - English and at CO State issues - Nov 1 election Spanish
*The local ballots for the Nov 1 election are on the County Clerk's site - Nov 1 election
*Information on the DFRA 4-A ballot initiative for the November 1 election is on the Fire Department's website DFRA 4-A

*November 1, 2011 Mail Ballot Rules The November 1 election in 2011 is a mail ballot only election, and votes will be counted on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. Ballots will be mailed to active, registered voters starting Monday, October 3, and must be received no later than 7 p.m., November 1. Ballots may be hand-delivered to the La Plata County Clerk & Recorders office, the Info Desk at the La Plata County Courthouse, and the Bayfield Department of Motor Vehicles. Mail ballot rules governing Durango municipal election are defined by the Colorado Municipal Election Code, (see the Durango City Code).

An active voter is one who voted in the November 2010 General Election. If you voted in the 2010 General Election and live within the Durango City limits you will receive a City of Durango Regular Municipal Election ballot in the mail. If you registered after the November election but before the October 3 deadline you will receive a ballot. If you moved but have not changed your address you will need to go to the Durango City Clerk's (not the County Clerk) office at City Hall to fill in a Change Of Address form.

You will not receive a ballot by mail if you did not vote in the November 2010 Election. If you did not vote in November 2010, you are still considered to be an "eligible elector" if you voted in the November 2006 or 2008 election. In this case you may pick up a mail ballot at the Durango City Clerk's Office through November 1. Finally, if you have not voted in a November Election since 2005 you are no longer registered and it is now too late to register for this particular election. You can verify your registration status at registration status or call the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's Office at 382-6281.

*To search by state for specific voter information such as the facts about:
Absentee Voting, Ballot Measures,
Candidate Information, Early Voting,
Election Dates, Eligibility Requirements,
ID Requirements, Polling Place Details,
Provisional Voting, Resources and Links,
State Contact Info, Voter Registration,
Voting Machines
click VOTE411 sponsored by the League of Women Voters Education Fund

*For 8 steps on how to pick a candidate and vote, click pick and vote (courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Newton, Mass)

*To view all Elected Offices that are filled by La Plata County residents, click elected offices updated 1/20/09

Past Events

*On November 1, 2011, La Plata County residents may vote in an odd-year election with the following ballot issues:

1-Residents of Durango School District 9-R will vote to fill 4 School Board positions on the ballot; Districts A, B, D, and G.

2-Residents of the Bayfield School District 10 JT-R will vote to fill 4 positions on the ballot; 3 positions for a four-year term and 1 position for a two-year term.

3-City of Durango residents will vote on Issue 2A to purchase water from the Animas LaPlata Project.

4-Residents of the La Plata-Archuleta Water District will vote on Issue 5A to increase the debt without increasing existing taxes or imposing any new tax.

5-Residents of the Durango Fire Protection District will vote on Referred Issue 4A to increase the operational mill levy.

6-Colorado residents will vote on Proposition 103 to temporarily increase taxes to fund education.

Monday, October 3 is the last day to register to vote in this election. Voting in this election will be by mail-in ballot only. Ballots will be mailed starting October 11. Ballots may be hand-delivered to the La Plata County Clerk & Recorders office, the Info Desk at the La Plata County Courthouse, and the Bayfield Department of Motor Vehicles. Ballots must be received by 7PM on November 1.
*10/19/11 - 10/20/11 LWVLPC: INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS NOVEMBER 2011 BAYFIELD, DURANGO, AND IGNACIO
Durango and Bayfield will hold school board elections on November 1st, 2011.

Durango (9-R) will have 4 positions on the ballot; Districts A, B, D, and G

The candidate forum for Durango candidates will be held at the Durango City Hall On Thursday, October 20th, from 6-8PM. Click Durango school_board_flier to view a forum flier

Bayfield (10 JT-R) will have 4 positions on the ballot

The candidate forum for Bayfield candidates will be held at Bayfield City Hall on Wednesday, October 19th from 6-8PM. Click Bayfield school_board_flier to view a forum flier

Ignacio (11-JT) will not vote on school board candidates but will vote on state ballot issues and a local school bond issue. No candidate forum will be held in Ignacio.
*10/9/11 Durango Herald:Forum to examine election proposals By Stephanie Cook Herald Staff Writer The League of Women Voters of La Plata County will sponsor an election forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday in the Durango City Council Chambers, 949 East Second Ave. The forum will cover three of the issues that will appear on the Nov. 1 election ballot, including city of Durango Ballot Issue 2A, Statewide Proposition 103 and Durango Fire Protection District Referred Issue 4A. In Durango Ballot Issue 2A, the city is requesting permission to take on a $4 million debt to buy water from the Animas-La Plata Project... Statewide Proposition 103 proposes an increase in income and sales taxes to increase funding for preschools, K-12 education and higher education. The proposal would mean an additional $2.9 billion in tax revenue for schools over five years, with the state income-tax rate rising to 5 percent (up from 4.63) and the state sales tax-rate rising to 3 percent (up from 2.9)... The Durango Fire Protection District Referred Measure 4A would increase property taxes for many residents. Durango Fire & Rescue Authority is asking voters to pass a 6.8 mill levy across its 325-square-mile district, creating a uniform tax district. Currently, DFRA, which is a combination of an ambulance service and three fire districts + Durango, Animas and Hermosa Cliffs + has multiple revenue streams and boards of directors...
*10/18/11 Durango Herald:Get to know school board candidates this week Public forums to be held Wednesday and Thursday By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer School board candidates for Bayfield and Durango school districts will have a chance to voice their views at forums this week hosted by the League of Women Voters of La Plata County. The forum for Bayfield School Board candidates will be Wednesday at Bayfield Town Hall. Janie Hoover, Levi Mead, Timothy Stumpf and current board member Mike Derrickson are running for three four-year terms. Current board member Don Mooney is running uncontested for one two-year term on the board. Deep financial cuts likely will be a major issue facing the school board in upcoming months. More cuts in state funding are likely next year, and this year, the district has about 30 students fewer than it budgeted for, which means it will receive $150,000 to $200,000 less than expected in per-pupil revenue. The new board also will be charged with creating a strategic plan that will determine the direction of Bayfield's schools for the next three to five years. Another issue for several candidates was the need to increase transparency and communication within the district. The forum for Durango School District 9-R School Board candidates will be held Thursday at Durango City Hall. Three of the four open seats will be contested. Greg Spradling and Kristy Rodri are running in District A, Carla Mulkey and Stephanie Moran are running in District B, and current board member Wendy Rice and Suzanne Carlson are running for District G. Current board member Julie Levy is running uncontested in District D. Board members' most pressing task will be to find the district's next superintendent. Another focus is the distribution of the $3.2 million the district receives annually thanks to a mill-levy increase voters approved last November for technology, teacher pay and maintaining small class sizes. Budget cuts from the state level also will be an issue in coming years, candidates said...
*10/10/11 LWVLPC: You are invited to attend a forum to hear about the local and state issues that are included in the Nov 1, 2011 election. The forum is from 6:30-8 in Durango City Council Chambers. We will be hearing the pros and cons about the City of Durango Ballot Issue 2-A (purchase of water from Animas La Plata Project), Durango Fire Protection District Referred Issue 4-A (Operational Mill Levy) and the statewide Proposition 103 (temporarily raise taxes for schools). Click issues forum flier to view the forum flier.
* Monday, September 12, Please join us to welcome back our 66th year of making democracy work in La Plata County. Join new and seasoned members at an exciting new children's museum and enjoy wine and hors d-oeuvres. Our speaker, Past President Stephanie Huss will share her experiences in Washington in June at the Colordo Capital Conference. LWV leaders will also discuss this years's activities. Click Fall flier for more info.
*Wednesday 9/7/11 Health Insurance Exchange: What does it mean to employers and organizations? event flier Learn more about Health Insurance Exchanges: http://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/cohiex http://www.colorado.gov/healthreform
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Recreation Center, Sunlight room (brown bag luncheon, drinks provided) 2700 Main Avenue
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm LPEA Boardroom (light snacks and drinks provided) 45 Stewart Street
*7/27/11 Please note the following dates and locations for August 2011 public hearings related to the the Colorado Reapportionment Commission
public hearing venue locations by city
public hearing venue locations by date

To listen to an audio recording of each session including the Friday, August 12 session in Durango, click Colorado Reapportionment Commission audio
*3/17/11 Durango Herald:City Council candidates share common vision By Patrick Young Herald Staff Writer Wednesday night's forum of Durango's City Council hopefuls showcased four candidates who share similar visions for Durango and only marginal differences in how to get there. An audience of about 50 attended the League of Women Voters of La Plata County event, made unique by its complete lack of mudslinging, partisan bickering or even major policy disputes. Anyone hoping to witness a fight surely would have left disappointed. Areas with little to no disagreement included finding reliable sources of funding for Durango Fire & Rescue Authority, increasing the availability of child care services, restoring funding for television stations City Span 10 and Durango Community Access Television, or DCAT, and agreeing that a Target store would be good for Durango. There was little question that the council should support green-energy initiatives, encourage job creation, protect the local environment and, to the extent possible, provide funding for the arts...
*5/15/11 Durango Herald:LPEA election brings onboard 1 newcomer 3 incumbents return to co-op's governing board By Stephanie Cook Herald Staff Writer Board elections for the La Plata Electric Association resulted in only one change in members, with three out of four incumbents earning another term. The annual LPEA board meeting, held Saturday at Sky Ute Casino and Resort in Ignacio, was open to all LPEA member-consumers. Jeff Berman was re-elected to his seat in District 3, which represents the city of Durango. Berman, who has a degree in electrical engineering, has pushed for clean-energy and green-energy initiatives. Co-op members also re-elected Joe Wheeling to his seat in District 4, representing northern and eastern La Plata County. In District 1, covering Archuleta County, LPEA members elected Ken Fox to fill the seat of Harry Cole, who is retiring from the position after 27 years. Davin Montoya will continue to fill his seat in District 2, covering south and west La Plata County...
*5/15/11 Public Open House Regarding the 2011 County Commissioner Redistricting Process in La Plata County Durango, CO + On June 15, 2011 from 5:30 + 7:00 p.m., County Clerk and Recorder Tiffany Lee Parker will host an open house about the 2011 County Commissioner Redistricting Process in the Commissioner's Meeting Room at the La Plata County Courthouse, 1060 E 2nd Avenue, Durango. At this meeting, Mrs. Parker will provide detailed information on the redistricting process and how the U.S. Census Bureau data is utilized. Detailed maps will be available for the public to view. She will also go over the voter registration process, how it works and why it is so important for voters to keep their voter registration current. Information will also be provided about the upcoming election cycles for 2011 and 2012. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For additional information, please contact Tiffany Lee Parker at (970) 382-6294 or by email at tiffany.parker@co.laplata.co.us.
*4/6/11 Durango Herald White, Marbury claim city seats Voters single out development and growth as driving local issues By Melissa Castro Herald Staff Writer Two educators, Dick White and Anita "Sweetie" Marbury, will be the next two members of the Durango City Council. Of the more than 6,000 votes recorded, White and Marbury pulled in 2,185 and 1,705 votes, respectively. White, a former astronomy professor, and Marbury, a New Mexico drama teacher, beat out hopefuls Emil Wanatka and Connie Imig, who received 1,473 and 1,042 votes on the first ballots counted. Wanatka and Imig are both business owners. About 50 percent of Durango's electorate turned out, up from the last municipal election, which had a 37 percent turnout...

Between March 11th and April 5th the City of Durango will conduct a mail ballot-only election to elect two at-large Durango City Councilors for the positions currently held by Michael Rendon and Joe Colgan. All ballots must be returned by April 5, 2011.

*Durango City Council Mail Ballot Rules The Durango City Council election in 2011 is a mail ballot only election, and votes will be counted on April 5, 2011. Ballots will be mailed to active, registered voters starting March 18, and must be received no later than 7 p.m., April 5, at the Durango City Clerk's office, 949 E 2nd Avenue. Mail ballot rules governing Durango municipal election are defined by the Colorado Municipal Election Code, (see the Durango City Code).

An active voter is one who voted in the November 2010 General Election. If you voted in the 2010 General Election and live within the Durango City limits you will receive a City of Durango Regular Municipal Election ballot in the mail. If you registered after the November election but before the March 7 deadline you will receive a ballot. If you moved but have not changed your address you will need to go to the Durango City Clerk's (not the County Clerk) office at City Hall to fill in a Change Of Address form.

You will not receive a ballot by mail if you did not vote in the November 2010 Election. If you did not vote in November 2010, you are still considered to be an "eligible elector" if you voted in the November 2006 or 2008 election. In this case you may pick up a mail ballot at the Durango City Clerk's Office March 22nd through April 5th. Finally, if you have not voted in a November Election since 2005 you are no longer registered and it is now too late to register for this particular election. You can verify your registration status at http://www.govotecolorado.com or call the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder's Office at 382-6281.

*3/16/11: City Council Candidate Forum
Between March 11th and April 5th the City of Durango will conduct a mail ballot-only election to elect two at-large Durango City Councilors for the positions currently held by Michael Rendon and Joe Colgan. The League of Women Voters of La Plata County invites you to meet and question the candidates on Wednesday, March 16 2011 from 6:00 to 8pm in the Durango City Council Chambers, 949 E. 2nd Ave in Durango. Remember to bring your questions and to vote by mail ballot on or before April 5!
Click Candidate Forum March 16 to view the flyer for more details

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: May 14, 2012 07:51 PDT.