In September and October 2007 Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O’Malley and Director of Elections Michael Scarpello convened an advisory committee to study which election model should be used for the August 2008 Primary Election and the November 2008 General Election.
In 2006, Denver’s citizens voted at vote centers (rather than precincts) for the first time and voted on Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) touch-screen voting machines. The advisory committee examined whether that model, or another model, would be the best option for Denver voters in 2008.
"In considering this most critical decision, it is imperative that the public have the opportunity to provide input and this group will assist in providing that input." O’Malley stated.
After considering the group’s recommendation and many other factors, Clerk and Recorder O’Malley and Director Scarpello made the decision to accept the recommendations of the advisory ciommittee. Under this model, Denver voters would vote on paper ballots at precinct-based polling locations.
Some of the factors that were considered by the advisory committee included: compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act; costs associated with the various models; type of voting equipment required; waning public trust in electronic voting equipment; type of technology required; paid and volunteer staffing needs; and what is mandated by federal, state and local laws.
The committee, whose members included representatives from the Mayor’s Office, City Council, city and state government, the disability community, business, labor, the non-profit sector and other interests connected to the elections process, met in open meetings weekly from September 11 until October 16.
Links to the minutes and presentations from those meetings are below. These minutes will give a picture of the kinds and depth of the discussions that shaped the 2008 elections model.