Colorado elections bill to be signed by governor today (Dem Power Grab)

DENVER -- The governor is expected to sign a measure into law that would redefine how Colorado elections are run, allowing same-day voter registration and having ballots mailed to all registered voters.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to sign the bill this afternoon in his office, according to Rep. Dan Pabon, a Denver Democrat who sponsored the bill.

"This is a historic measure that will enfranchise more voters in Colorado than we've ever seen in our state's history," he said.

The bill passed with unanimous support from Democrats, but not a single Republican voted for it, citing concerns about voter fraud with same-day registration.

"I think those fears are without basis," said Pabon said, noting clerks already have a system in place to verify voters on Election Day for emergency registrations.

Republicans also argued the measure would be a game-changer for future elections, and some called the measure the most important of a session that was packed with contentious legislation.

Under the bill, every registered voter would get a ballot by mail, although they still could vote in person at any of the vote centers established by the bill, instead of the current system of going to a designated precinct polling place. Those would be eliminated.

The bill also would eliminate the category of "inactive" voters. That category currently applies to voters who skip even one election and restricts their ability to get ballots by mail.

"You're already winning the elections. Do you need to steal them, too?" Sen. Bill Cadman, the GOP's Senate leader, said during final debate on the measure.

It can be too convenient to write Colorado off as a lost cause.

The Democrats control all three branches of state government, with help from illegal immigrant votes, immigration from liberal states, outright fraud and a timid state GOP organization.

I have lived in Colorado since August of 1978, having legally immigrated from Canada a short time before and arriving in Colorado on August 1st of that year.

Even in the early years, things were not electorally perfect in this state. I just missed the liberal Republican Governor, John Love, but arrived in the heyday of Democrat Governor Dick Lamm.

I caught the last wave of Rocky Mountain westernism, where business executives in Denver still went about their business in Stetsons and cowboy boots. Sheplers was still a major retail force in the Front Range.

So, what happened to Colorado? Simple. The state GOP wanted good press from “The Rocky Mountain News” and “The Denver Post” newspapers, and ignored the Colorado hinterlands. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Without blaming entirely one individual for the destruction of a conservative Republican party in Colorado, former Congressman Bob Beauprez must take significant responsibility for the demise of the GOP in Colorado.

For those not familiar with Colorado politics, Bob was GOP Chairman just before his first run for Congress.

During his term as chairman, he ignored his conservative roots and cultivated the big money R squishes, to the detriment of all Coloradans.

I know Bob Beauprez and his family well. We attended the same parish Catholic church and broke bread together.

Things have not improved much since then. The ‘money’ Republicans run the Colorado GOP. The socially conservative Republicans “embarrass” the state Republican leaders, so they spend much of every election cycle disparaging them to the liberal media. It has not helped them.

Until the Colorado Republican Party shows some interest in reconstituting their winning conservative coalition, they will remain a minority.

I believe that a resurgent, broadly conservative coalition can put these squishes in their place and win Colorado elections.

We have the Democrat attacks on the 2nd Amendment, traditional marriage and secure borders to rally around. We need leaders not afraid to speak the truth. Unfortunately, the current Colorado GOP leadership has already proved wanting.

Sursum Corda

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