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County issues - Colorado
Boulder
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Thanks Shelley,
How do I get a fix on the time for the item, and how can I get an advance copy of the material?
Al
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
I believe the print contract, will, in fact, be on the agenda today - in which case you may have a copy which will obviate the need for the witten statement you want from me. Shelley
-----Original Message----- Ms. Bailey,
Al
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Bailey,
I have reviewed attachment 3 of the Exhibit B which you faxed to me in partial response to our June 14th records request.
The commissioners would be advised to disallow this document to be used as Boulder County’s acceptance plan. To do otherwise would be fiscally irresponsible.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
I received and merged the [faxed] exhibit. Thanks
Thanks
Al
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Bailey,
The attached response is insufficient.
Thank you.
Al
June 19, 2006
Al Kolwicz CAMBER 2667 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 VIA EMAIL: AlKolwicz@qwest.net
RE: Open Records Request Dated June 14, 2006
Dear Mr. Kolwicz:
Pursuant to C.R.S. 24-72-204(2)(a)(VIII) (A) of the Colorado Open Records Act, number one (1) in your referenced request cannot be disclosed as the entire document contains specialized details of security arrangements, which are exempt from disclosure.
Furthermore, to release the security arrangements set for in the Security Plan would undermine the very intent of the Plan, as it could compromise County security. The Secretary of State's Office during this past year has stated its position that these plans fall within the security arrangement exemption under the Colorado Public Records Act. Although the County disclosed a redacted version of the Plan last year, it is now the County's belief that even releasing a redacted version could compromise the public's interest in having a secure election. The County cannot risk its citizens' safety and right to a secure election by releasing this information. Therefore, the County is also denying release of the Plan on the grounds that such disclosure would do substantial injury to the public interest. See C.R.S. 24-72-204(6)(a).
With regard to number two (2) of your request regarding the equipment acceptance plan/criteria, this information is set forth in the County contract with Hart InterCivic, Inc., and is available for your inspection and/or request for copies at the County Attorney’s Office. Please schedule an appointment with Amber Johnson (303-441-3190) for a time to come in and inspect the document.
Sincerely,
Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney
/aj
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
I am working on that
-----Original Message-----
You were also going to get permission to tell me whether or not the ballot will include identifiable marks.
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
As I told you in our conversation the contract may not go before the BOCC tomorrow - but I am still hopeful at this point that it will. I cannot release a copy until it is finalized and does go before the BOCC. I will make sure you get a copy as soon as it is releasable.
Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney
-----Original Message----- In addition to the two June 14th items, you are also supposed to provide me information regarding the June 13th request – ballot identifiers. (You were to speak with Ms. Salas)
I hope that you’ll also provide me a copy of the contract being submitted for approval tomorrow.
Al
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
I will have a reply to you very soon. When you say two requests are you referring to the two pieces of information you requested in your June 14th request - or am I missing another request altogether?
Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney
-----Original Message-----
Hello Ms. Bailey,
Following our conversation Friday afternoon, I was expecting to receive information from you regarding two outstanding open records requests.
Please tell us what time you think that we will have the county’s replies.
Thank you.
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Bailey,
I received your denial of our request for records (attached).
If the County is not breaking the law, it is certainly improperly violating the spirit of the Colorado Sunshine laws.
I implore you to make available a draft ballot. It does not even need to include contests. We are interested in verifying for ourselves whether or not the ballot will contain any illegal markings.
We have had experience with the County in past years. They have promised a ballot, but instead produced a “sample” ballot which does not contain the markings that will be included in a live ballot.
We will not be tricked a second time.
The remainder of the county’s attached response is unacceptable as well, but we can resolve this Monday.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
June 16, 2006
Mr. Al Kolwicz CAMBER 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 VIA E-MAIL: alkolwicz@qwest.net ORIGINAL VIA US POST
Mr. Kolwicz:
The following is Boulder County’s response to your open records request dated June 13, 2006. The responses are listed in the order of your requests: 1. The County does not have records responsive to this request. When the ballots are finalized sample ballots will be available to the public. 2. With regard to your questions 2 and 3, the County has a Hart manual that contains print specifications and information about bar codes. The manual is marked confidential and asserts that the information contained in the manual is proprietary and may not be released. Therefore, pursuant to C.R.S. 24-72-(3)(a)(IV), we cannot disclose these documents to you. 3. With regard to your question number 4, the County does not have any documents responsive to this request.
Sincerely,
Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney Boulder County
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
Sure, call me when you get it. I will leave around 4:30. Do you have my number? Shelley
-----Original Message----- Will there be time today to discuss your reply? Al
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us] Al, I am sending a reply to your June 13th request soon; however, there are no materials available for your inspection per that request. The letter will explain the reasons for the denial. Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney Boulder County Attorney's Office
-----Original Message----- I believe that the June 13th materials are to be available today. I will come to review them, since time is of the essence. Please let me know when they are ready. Thanks Al
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us] The answer to your request to June 13th will be sent to you soon. The answer to your request dated June 14th will be responded to on June 19th. Sincerely, Shelley Bailey
-----Original Message-----
Hello Ms. Bailey,
Are the materials requested in the two attached Open Records requests available for my review?
Thank you,
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Paper Tigers
It looks like our CORA yesterday has had an impact. The Clerk is asking the Commissioners to waive bidding for the ballots.
This is a problem. How many of each style will be printed? Will they be anonymous?
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2006
12. Clerk and Recorder's Office: Request for a bid waiver for Hart InterCivic to print election ballots. ACTION REQUESTED: Approval
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Dear Ms. Bailey:
Attached is a Colorado Open Records Act request which requests the following: June 14, 2006 8:30 AM Please provide copies of the following Boulder County documents: 1. Security Plan, pursuant to SECTION 1-5-616(5), C.R.S. 2. Acceptance testing plan, pursuant to Colorado’s HAVA plan and equipment certification program. Thank you very much for your assistance.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Dear Ms. Bailey:
We are informed by Boulder County Purchasing that there is no current RFP for printing of the 2006 Primary Election ballots and that we should go thru you to obtain the records we seek. From past experience it is our understanding that you will require us to complete a CORA request form. It is attached and requests the following: June 13, 2006 3:45 PM -- Please provide copies of the following materials regarding the Boulder County 2006 Primary Election Ballots: 3. Ballot layout including all barcodes, etc. for at least one precinct. 4. Specifications of barcodes and other markings other than the plain text on the ballots. 5. Ballot printing specifications. 6. Request for proposal and/or bids for printing the ballots. According to the Colorado Election Calendar the ballots must be printed by July 7th. We hope that you will find no difficulty in immediately responding to our request.
7-July Fri. -- Ballots for Primary Election must be printed and in possession of the designated election official. (Not less than 32 days before the Primary Election) 1-5-402(1)
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Dear Secretary of State Dennis,
It appears that the Secretary of State and Boulder County are working together to block vital election information from becoming public. We hope that this is not the case.
Please review the attached 15 pages. Since at least August 2005, you will find that we have been asking to understand Boulder County’s plan for anonymous voting in the 2006 elections. 1. We wish to know whether the paper ballots to be used for the August 2006 election and the November 2006 election will be marked by the county/vendor/printer in any way whereby the ballot can be uniquely identified. This would include identifying numbers, bar codes, and/or any other marking that can be used to identify a particular ballot. 2. If they are on the ballot that is issued to the voter, then we wish to know if all such identifying markings are removed from the ballot before the ballot is cast. We have a right to know if Boulder County will provide anonymous voting for the 2006 elections.
It is outrageous that the Secretary of State and Boulder County would endanger the public’s right to a secret ballot by hiding from the public the information needed to challenge a decision to use non-anonymous ballots..
We appeal to you to intervene and require that Boulder County immediately answer the two questions above.
Thank you for your attention to this vital matter.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Dennis,
In case our May 18th appeal has fallen between the cracks, I am retransmitting it to you.
Al
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Secretary of State Dennis,
Boulder County is hiding important election information from the public.
This travesty has been going on for more than a year. Recent evidence, August 2005 – May 2006, is attached and summarized below.
Before the HART vote counting equipment was purchased, Linda Salas, the Boulder County Clerk, told the commissioners and the public in a public hearing that ballot serial numbers and bar codes would be recorded on removable ballot stubs. This is not true.
It appears that the clerk’s office is working to block timely legal action against their illegal use of marked ballots.
Is it your duty to intervene? If so, please do. If not, who is the responsible party that can compel Boulder County to respond to our request for this vital election information?
Al Kolwicz
CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate
Mail Ballot Election Results CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
Attached:
August 3, 2005 -- Kolwicz to Liss. Will you share with us the county's plan for providing anonymous voting in November?
August 17 – Kolwicz to Liss. Please let us know when you intend to reply?
August 26 – Third request.
April 10, 2006 – Kolwicz to Bailey. Colorado Open Records Request.
We wish to know whether the paper ballots to be used for the August 2006 election and the November 2006 election will be marked by the county/vendor/printer in any way whereby the ballot can be uniquely identified. This would include identifying numbers, bar codes, and/or any other marking that can be used to identify a particular ballot. If they are on the ballot that is issued to the voter, then we wish to know if all such identifying markings are removed from the ballot before the ballot is cast.
April 12 – Bailey to Kolwicz. There are no records. Direct your questions to the Elections Division.
April 12 – Kolwicz to Salas. Please respond to query.
April 14 – Kolwicz to Salas. Is there a reason you cannot respond?
April 25 – Kolwicz to Salas. If you do not know answer, please tell us that.
May 8 – Kolwicz to Salas. When may we expect answers?
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Salas,
Nearly a month has gone by and we have not received a response to our two URGENT questions, see below.
If you have sent a reply, please resend it. If not, please tell us when we may expect answers.
Thank you very much
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Ms. Salas,
We cannot guess what kind of game that you might be playing, but we are offended by the lack of professionalism being exhibited by you and your office.
It has been more than two weeks since we asked a simple pair of questions. “We wish to know whether the paper ballots to be used for the August 2006 election and the November 2006 election will be marked by the county/vendor/printer in any way whereby the ballot can be uniquely identified. This would include identifying numbers, bar codes, and/or any other marking that can be used to identify a particular ballot. If they are on the ballot that is issued to the voter, then we wish to know if all such identifying markings are removed from the ballot before the ballot is cast.” If you do not know the answer to these questions, then at least do us the courtesy of telling us that.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Is there an explanation as to why you are not responding to our URGENT request for data? (see below.)
This should require no more than one or two simple YES-NO responses.
Is the answer not known?
Is the answer being hidden from the public?
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Dear Ms. Salas,
We are re-submitting this request since we have not received a response to our urgent request for information regarding your plan to provide voters an anonymous ballot..
Is there any reason that you cannot respond to this simple request this morning? “We wish to know whether the paper ballots to be used for the August 2006 election and the November 2006 election will be marked by the county/vendor/printer in any way whereby the ballot can be uniquely identified. This would include identifying numbers, bar codes, and/or any other marking that can be used to identify a particular ballot. If they are on the ballot that is issued to the voter, then we wish to know if all such identifying markings are removed from the ballot before the ballot is cast.”
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Al Kolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net]
Attached is a request that was just returned to us by the County Attorney with instructions to ask you the question directly.
We have lost valuable time going through what we believed to be the regular channel. I hope that you will respond to this query immediately.
Thank you very much.
Al Kolwicz CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz www.coloradovoter.blogspot.com
CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
From:
Bailey, Shelley [mailto:sbailey@co.boulder.co.us]
Mr. Kolwicz:
Although you characterize your request as an Open Records request, it is, in fact, a request for information; a request for information on what actions the elections office will take with regard to certain aspects of the 2006 election. I did, however, look into whether the Clerk's office has any records that would be "responsive" to your inquiry, and it does not. Because you want to know what the Clerk's future intentions are with regard to the 2006 ballot, I suggest that you direct your questions to the Elections Division.
Sincerely, Shelley Bailey Assistant County Attorney
-----Original Message----- Dear Ms. Bailey, Attached is an open records request. We hope that you will not require a three day period for your response. Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this query. Al Al Kolwicz
CAMBER – Citizens for Accurate
Mail Ballot Election Results CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that every voter gets to vote once, every vote is counted once, and that every ballot is secure and anonymous.
County of Boulder Public Records Request Form
The following request is made under the Colorado Public Records law:
Date: ______________________4710/2006
Name: Al Kolwicz
Organization represented (if any): CAMBER
Address/Phone No.: 2867 Tincup Circle, Boulder, CO 80305/303-494-1540
Name of document(s) requested:
April 10, 2006 We wish to know whether the paper ballots to be used for the August 2006 election and the November 2006 election will be marked by the county/vendor/printer in any way whereby the ballot can be uniquely identified. This would include identifying numbers, bar codes, and/or any other marking that can be used to identify a particular ballot. If they are on the ballot that is issued to the voter, then we wish to know if all such identifying markings are removed from the ballot before the ballot is cast. If the document name is unknown, provide brief, but specific description of document or information requested (note date of issuance and location of document, if known). A request, which is broad, vague or too voluminous, may cause a delay in the time the County can produce the records. Please attach an additional page if needed to list these items in detail. If the records are available pursuant to C.R.S. 24-72-201 et seq., the records shall be made available for viewing within three working days. If extenuating circumstances exist so that the Custodian cannot gather the records within the three-day period, the period shall be extended an additional seven working days. The requestor shall be notified of the extension within the first three days of receiving the request. Please refer to the County’s Public Records Policy for complete information. The Policy is available at http://www.co.boulder.co.us/policy/open_records.htm or at the County Human Resources Office 303-441-3508. The fee shall be $1.25 per page, unless actual costs exceed that amount, in which case, actual costs may be charged. All payments for public records must be received in advance of releasing the requested records. We expect to obtain these records at no cost.
4/10/2006 Al Kolwicz
FILING INSTRUCTIONS: You may fill out the electronic form and e-mail it to the person/office whom you believe to be the custodian of the document(s), if you know the e-mail address. Otherwise, you may print the form, fill it out, and then file it by FAX if you know the FAX number, or by mail or in person to the office of the custodian of the records you are seeking. Please note: If the document is to be filed electronically, it should be accompanied by an electronic signature.
For Official Use Only
Time spent by staff in assembling the records request .
Estimated cost of assembly $__________.
Records request received by: Received (DATE/TIME)
______________________________
-----Original
Message-----
Mr. Liss,
Almost three weeks have gone by and we have not received a reply to our August 3rd request for information regarding the November election.
The people want to know:
1. What is Boulder County's plan for providing anonymous voting in November?
2. What is Boulder County's plan for engaging independent citizens, especially those who the Clerk's report refers to as "citizen activists", in the planning for the November election?
We anxiously await your response.
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER - Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 AlKolwicz@qwest.net www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz http://ColoradoVoter.blogspot.com
-----Original
Message-----
Mr. Liss
Since two weeks have passed since I sent you the e-mail below, I fear that it may have gotten misplaced.
Please confirm that you have received this e-mail, and if you would be so kind, please let us know when you intend to reply.
Thank you.
Al
Al Kolwicz CAMBER - Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 AlKolwicz@qwest.net www.users.qwest.net/~alkolwicz http://ColoradoVoter.blogspot.com
-----Original Message----- From: AlKolwicz [mailto:alkolwicz@qwest.net] Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 5:41 PM To: 'Liss, Josh' Cc: 'Salas, Linda'; 'Wurl, Nancy Jo'; 'commissioners@co.boulder.co.us' Subject: RE: Revised response document
Thank you very much Mr. Liss.
Commissioner Toor, during yesterday's hearing, asked you for a list of milestones leading up to the November election.
In your reply, I did not hear you mention anything about how the county intends to provide voters an anonymous ballot. As you may have heard, this was a major problem during the November 2004 election. Will you share with us the county's plan for providing anonymous voting in November?
Also, I did not hear you mention any plans for engaging independent citizens, especially those who the Clerk's report refers to as "citizen activists", in the planning for the November election. We believe that past problems can be avoided by reaching agreement on criteria for achieving trustworthy security, accuracy, verification and transparency.
In our opinion, this would entail reaching agreement on what will be measured. Reaching agreement on how, by who, and when each item will be measured. Reaching agreement on how and when data will be accessible by the public and/or watchers. Reaching agreement on minimum performance standard for each criterion measured. Reaching agreement on what to do if agreed-to minimum-performance is not achieved.
Chairman Pearlman, at the end of the hearing, asked that I address these questions directly to you, so here they are.
We look forward to learning the county's plans.
Al Kolwicz
CAMBER Citizens for Accurate Mail Ballot Election Results 2867 Tincup Circle Boulder, CO 80305 303-494-1540 AlKolwicz@qwest.net |
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CAMBER is a dedicated group of volunteers who are working to ensure that |
