The state’s vote-tracking system crashed twice this morning and had to be rebooted this afternoon. It is back online. But the glitchiness spurred 2nd District Congressman Jared Polis, a Democrat from Boulder who is up for re-election, to call outgoing Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler to task.
Polis’s comments came in a release:
[blockquote]“As hundreds of thousands of Coloradans headed to the polls to participate in today’s critical election, they were faced with widespread delays and disruptions as computer troubles plagued precincts and voter information websites across the state.
“Secretary of State Scott Gessler chose to come to Boulder to engage in partisan political grandstanding about an issue that was dismissed by a judge yesterday, when he should have been focused on doing his job and making sure every Coloradan has the opportunity to vote — and that those votes are counted.
“Perhaps if Secretary Gessler was more concerned with doing his job than getting on television, today’s computer problems could have been avoided. I urge him to get back to work protecting the rights of every Coloradan to participate in the democratic process.”[/blockquote]
Gessler gave an interview yesterday outside the Boulder clerk’s office, referring to complaints that Democratic Clerk Hillary Hall had turned away Republican nominees when appointing election judges.
“Unfortunately there is a real sense of distrust here in Boulder County,” he said. “My concern is there has been discrimination against Republicans.”
Races up and down the ballot in today’s midterm election in swing-state Colorado promise to be as tight as any in the nation.
Gessler has been a proudly partisan secretary of state for the last four years. He was a high-profile conservative politics attorney before being elected and he has been a favorite target for Democrats during his time in office.
Boulder County, home to the University of Colorado’s main campus, myriad government research centers as well as biotech and renewable-energy companies, is a high-density Democratic stronghold is the state.
