Spanish Language Voting Advisory Committee (ACCESO) ACCESO is the Spanish word for "access." And it is the short name for the Elections Division's Spanish Language Voting Advisory Committee. The purpose of the group is to assist the division and offer guidance with voting outreach to Denver's limited-English, Spanish-speaking citizens. This is the advisory committee's mission statement:   "Provide advice and guidance to the Office of the Clerk and Recorder and its Elections Division to assist in communicating to the Spanish language community for purposes of providing elections information and promoting voting and participation of all citizens in the elections process."   Interested citizens are invited to join the advisory committee, as new ideas, insights and assistance are always welcome. The meeting schedule of the group varies with the election cycle. In the lead-up to the 2008 elections, the committee is meeting approximately monthly, at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments are provided. Please check the agenda for the date and meeting location, as it may change. In addition, the committee may choose to convene additional smaller working sessions. These working sessions will be posted.   Meetings Meeting materials are available here for members and other interested citizens.   07/08/08 Agenda Meeting Materials (2.48Mb) Minutes 06/17/08 Agenda Meeting Materials (2.06Mb) Minutes 05/20/08 Agenda Meeting Materials (1.76Mb) Minutes 04/30/08 Agenda Meeting Materials (958Kb) Minutes

Announcements The Denver Elections Division is looking for bilingual poll workers for the 2008 elections. If you are registered to vote in Denver and are proficient in English and in Spanish, please consider joining the effort and assisting the Spanish-speaking community at the polls.   Denver City Council unanimously approved a proclamation on July 14, 2008, recognizing the community outreach efforts of the Denver Elections Division and the ACCESO-Spanish Language Voting Advisory Board towards fulfillment of the Federal Voting Rights Language Assistance Act. Sponsored by Council Member Paul D. Lopez, Council District 3, the proclamation recognized the Denver Elections Division for developing the 2008 Denver Elections Vote Model through an extensive community process and for its community outreach with ACCESO. ACCESO is working with the division to recruit 2,000 poll workers including bilingual poll workers needed for the projected record voter turnout in the 2008 Primary and General elections. ACCESO and the division are also working together actively to promote the participation of Spanish speaking citizens in voting.

Committee Structure and Background ACCESO Structure Membership is unrestrictive, and there is no specific term of commitment. New members are given a letter of appointment from Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O'Malley affirming their welcome into the group. The committee elects a chair, co-chair and secretary; and a steering committee that consults on issues between meetings.   Chair Stella Madrid, Denver Housing Authority Co-Chair Deborah Ortega, Denver Human Services Steering Committee The chair; the co-chair; and: Jon Gallegos, Colorado Foundation; Gia Irlando, Council District 3 aide; Grace Lopez, Mi Familia Vota Background  This committee was first formed as the Spanish Language Advisory Board in 2002, after the City and County of Denver was informed by the U.S. Department of Justice that it must provide its election materials in Spanish as well as English. Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1973 aa-1a mandates the provision of bilingual election materials by the City and County of Denver, because the city meets the federal threshhold of having more than five percent population who are Spanish speakers with limited English.   The committee was formed in response to the federal mandate as an effective way of assisting the city in reaching out to this population with election and voting materials. The committee has a six-year history of active commitment to its mission, and provides an invaluable service to the city and its limited-English voters.