The Gazette asked three local candidates for El Paso County Clerk and Recorder three questions about election security, as Colorado county clerks are under intense scrutiny.
Steve Schleiker is the current county assessor and is running against Peter Lupia, an entrepreneur, in the Republican primaries. Lisa Wilkes, who was a member of the redistricting commission in the state, is the Democrat in this race.
The GazetteHow would you ensure El Paso County’s access to the ballot?
Schleiker: Our democracy is built on the right to vote and must be protected. Every El Paso County citizen, who is eligible to vote, deserves equal access to their representatives and the opportunity to weigh in on the most important issues to them. How can I give access to the ballot? The Constitution of the United States of America, and the state of Colorado, must be supported and defended. To ensure that every citizen is able to exercise their right to vote, you must uphold all laws at the local, state, and federal levels. As a United States Marine Corps veteran and as our elected county assessor, the oaths I took to fulfill the duties of my offices to their best ability are fundamental to my beliefs and I take them very seriously. As I assume the role as clerk and recorder, they will always be in my thoughts.
Steve Schleiker
The GazetteAre you concerned about Colorado’s environment for county clerks?
Schleiker:I have no concerns. My eight-year public service record in the role of assessor has been well documented and is always up for discussion. I have demonstrated that I do not work for the Denver Boulder elite. I work in El Paso County for the citizens who pay my salary. I have been a member of the legislature and have testified at the legislature many times in my fight against state elected leaders and lobbyists who continue to try to violate our private property rights. They also attempt to remove or bypass our (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) amendment. They also propose to increase property taxes for those who lost their homes in a natural catastrophe. One should not worry if they have the experience, leadership, knowledge, and commitment to do the right thing for the voters of El Paso County.
The GazetteHow do you ensure that voters are confident in the local election process?
Schleiker:Voting is an American principle. It should be protected, encouraged, and practiced. Three ways I plan to gain citizens’ trust are: First, give our citizens the tools and platforms they need. The Clerks Office can open data and be more transparent to give citizens more tools to monitor performance and results. Citizens can also hold their elected leaders responsible and demand better services. This is the first step to gaining trust from the citizens. Second, make sure you keep open government in place for the long term. I believe in and support smaller government and less regulation. However, I will continue to push for local and state election transparency laws. Strong election laws will stop future administrations in our local offices, including clerks and recorders, from rolling back open-government reforms. Third, establish relationships. As your clerk, recorder, I will work together with all to restore citizens’ trust. Open reforms can only be made possible by embracing partnerships and strengthening collective decision making.
The GazetteHow can you make sure voters have confidence in local elections?
Peter Lupia
Lupia:First, voters should cast their ballots in person on election day with a legally issued identification at a precinct-level voting place. This is the same as before mail-in balloting was introduced in 2013. Next, provide transparency and accountability by allowing neighbors to serve as election judges and volunteers to count ballots in their local precincts. Then, publicly accumulate, count, and report those results from Clerk and Recorders Office, just as we did before the introduction of electronic methods and Dominion machines in 2016. We ensure that all state and federal election/ballot recording/storage laws are followed, and not contradictory or illegal orders from the secretary. Transparently conducted, forensic, full audits are a good practice to ensure security and confidence. The secretary of states cannot direct partial risk limited audits.
The GazetteAre you concerned about the working environment that Colorado county clerks are operating in?
Lupia:The current working environment for county clerks is very dangerous. Clerks who do not follow federal and state laws regarding the maintenance and recording of ballots and election results are being investigated for criminal violations. The fact that clerks are prohibited by the secretary-of-state from forensically auditing any questionable findings within their territory is unacceptable. Clerks are being forced to follow illegal rules and orders, or threatened if refusing to submit. It would be less concerning if this were a single incident involving one rogue clerk. However, a pattern of following clerks and further restricting their ability to do their elected jobs is continuing across the state. Additional unlawful rules and orders are being promulgated in an attempt to put more restrictions on clerks who work to fulfill their sworn duties.
The GazetteHow would you protect the right to vote in El Paso County
Lupia:Current state law allows all eligible voters to receive a USPS ballot 18 to 22 days before the general and primary elections. This gives every registered voter access. To ensure that the ballot is cast in integrity, I recommend that voters cast their vote in person with a legally-issued ID at a qualified location. This is just as it was before mail-in voting began in 2013. The precinct-level locations where ballots are counted should be opened only on election days. Voting in person on election day with ID and hand-counted result has been tried and tested for centuries. It yields timely election night results. Voters often tell me that they are willing to sacrifice conveniences like mail-in ballots for security and election.
The GazetteHow do you ensure that voters are confident in the local election process?
Lisa Wilkes
Wilkes:Other countries have tried to interfere with our voting system, mostly spreading disinformation about mail-in voting security. Audits and investigations are ongoing to prove that the infrastructure used for voting is secure and that there is no way to change results. Fraud is rare and it is always prosecuted fully. Fraud is something that the Elections Department will continue monitoring for emphatically. This is why we have so much safeguards to protect integrity of the vote. With so many whispers about stolen elections, it can be difficult for people to trust the system. I suggest that anyone who wants to experience the high security levels firsthand could become an election judge and witness the entire process. You can take part in our system to see the security levels around every aspect of the process.
The GazetteAre you concerned about Colorado’s environment for county clerks?
Wilkes:El Paso County residents consider elections important. The clerk oversees one the most scrutinized and important departments. This is especially true during elections! As a Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission Commissioner, I feel comfortable with my work being scrutinized and rated publicly. I am proud of the fact that the final plan for the commission was approved by the Colorado Supreme Court without any issues. Clerks are accountable to the people they serve. They are not legislators, but must uphold the laws in their capacity as servants of their constituents. Every action they take in their positions should be scrutinized. The clerks then provide all the information to the secretary-of-state, who oversees their work. This system of checks and balances ensures transparency and accessibility of the vote and that it clearly represents El Paso County’s voice.
The GazetteHow can you ensure that El Paso County residents have access to the voting system?
Wilkes:The state of Colorado currently has a mail-in voting system. This is controlled at a higher level than the clerk. The clerk is not authorized to make or modify laws, but is legally required to maintain current laws related to elections. Mail-in ballots are a safe and secure method to vote. This gives you extra time to consider your votes and do research if necessary. If you prefer to vote in person, we also offer that option. In Colorado you can register to vote even on election day! To make voting more accessible to more citizens, we can provide more in-person voter registration sites and more locations for ballot drop so that all eligible constituents have access to the voting process.
