Secretary of State Scott Gessler continued his second round of election integrity listening tours Tuesday with stops in Greeley and Fort Collins.
Update 1/9 9:38 a.m.: Following a listening meeting in Greeley, Secretary of State Scott Gessler traveled north to Fort Collins for another session. Around 20 people attended the event voicing concerns ranging from provisional ballots to electronic voting machines. Read more about the event from the Fort Collins Coloradoan. Our original post continues:
A handful of voters attended the Greeley meeting that covered a myriad of topics surrounding the election. Although earlier listening stops in Pueblo and Boulderwere contentious, the Greeley meeting, and an earlier meeting in Sterling were much more subdued.
Tweets posted by Gessler from the Fort Collins and Greeley events show a small turn-out for both events.
Joe Perez came to the Greeley meeting saying accusations directed at the Latino Community were a real concern to him prior to Election Day.
“I heard that terminology, and to me it didn’t exist in the community. I think it’s a generated word term that turns people off. In reality, the Latino community was very honest with me.”
Perez added that Latinos he spoke with said confusion about voter registration typically happened at the DMV when they were getting their license.
Scott Gessler says in past elections there have been confirmed instances of voter fraud. He defended his contentious actions last year to clear the voting rolls of ineligible and illegally registered voters. “Look there’s two problems that happen. One is clearly problems with election integrity,” said Gessler.
“When someone who isn’t legally registered to vote, isn’t eligible to vote and they vote, it basically dilutes your vote. It basically steals votes from people who are legally registered and legally voting.”
Other issues discussed concerned active versus inactive voters, as well as confusion over mail-in ballots. Gessler says whatever the size of the meeting, getting in front of people is good for the election process.
“What I hope to get out is real examples of people who have been in the field watching what goes on. And to get comments on what when well and what didn’t work as well. And for the most part, it’s been really good.”
The Secretary wraps up his listening tour later this month with stops in Durango, Alamosa and Grand Junction.
