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2012 General Election Review: a Colorado Success Story

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2012 General Election Review: a Colorado Success Story February 7, 2013 2012 General Election Review: A Colorado Success Story Introduction The 2012 election cycle was the most successful in Colorado history. Through proactive management and innovative solutions, Colorado modernized its election systems, achieved historic voter registration levels, exceeded national voter turnout numbers, and saw record-breaking participation by military and overseas voters. Colorado voter participation was up in 2012, bucking the national trend. Nationwide, voter turnout was down in 2012, compared to the previous presidential election—including heavily contested swing states. But Colorado’s turnout was up compared to 2008. 1 Voter Participation 2 Change in Turnout National Swing States Colorado (2008-2012) (Average) -6.8% -1.2% +1.8% By Election Day, Colorado voter registration reached a record level. A multimedia advertising campaign and mail program by the Secretary of State’s office contributed to an increase of 440,888 in the number of registered voters compared to 2008—a 13.7% increase. This far exceeds state population growth, and includes 300,442 new registrations in 2012 alone. Seventy-one percent of registered voters participated in the 2012 election, an increase of almost 2% over the 2008 election. In the 2008 election, 2,422,236 voters cast a ballot. This number rose to 2,596,353 in the 2012 election. By comparison, national 1 Based on preliminary election returns as reported and compiled by the New York Times 2 Includes data for Nevada, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania 2012 General Election Review: A Colorado Success Story turnout plummeted nearly 7%, to 57.5%. Across Colorado, domestic voters returned 97.7% of mail-in ballots, while military and overseas voters returned 93.6%. Of these, 99.1% of domestic mail-in ballots and 97.8% of military and overseas ballots were counted for the election. According a recently released analysis by George Mason University, at 71.1%, Colorado ranked first in the nation for overall turnout based on voting eligible population, third in the nation for presidential turnout based on voting eligible population, (70.3%), and sixth in the nation for 3,4 turnout based on voting age population (64.7%). “I am so very pleased that you offer an option for us to email our ballot Colorado achieved this impressive voter in. It’s so convenient and participation by deploying new technologies and inexpensive. My other American friends here in China who are from systems such as multi-state data matching, electronic other states do not have this option ballot delivery for military and overseas voters, and and some will not vote simply high-speed Ballot on Demand printers. because of the hassle, expense, or time restraint (due to mailing Interstate data matching increased registration issues). I could not be more pleased that I have been able to vote. and improved voter roll accuracy. Thanks!!!!” Colorado participates in a data matching -Overseas voter program that increased voter registrations and more accurate voter rolls. In 2012, Colorado partnered with six other states (Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, and Washington) to implement the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). ERIC is a self-governing, voluntary multi-state coalition that shares voter registration database information for two purposes: to increase total registrations and to make registration rolls as accurate as possible. Conceived by the Pew Charitable Trust, ERIC seeks to reduce persistent errors in registration records resulting from an inefficient and mistake-prone voter registration system. According to PEW’s research, over 12% of voter registration records nationally 5 contain some error. PEW also estimates that 51 million eligible voters are not registered. 3 Voting age population includes all individuals over the age of 18. This number includes individuals who are not eligible to vote, such as non-citizens and convicted felons. Voting eligible population refers to the population that is eligible to vote. 4 “2012 General Election Turnout Rates,” United States Election Project, George Mason University, available from http://elections.gmu.edu/voter_turnout.htm. The results of the George Mason study are subject to change as more election data becomes available. The rankings reflected in this paper are current as of the publication date. 5 A full description of the ERIC program can be found at http://www.pewstates.org/research/featured-collections/electronic-registration- information-center-eric-85899426022 2 2012 General Election Review: A Colorado Success Story Participation in ERIC facilitated dramatic increases in voter registration. The Secretary of State used Department of Motor Vehicle data to identify individuals who appeared eligible to vote, but were not registered. Through this technique, the Department of State “Everyone seemed to love the idea identified 723,123 Coloradans not registered to vote, [Ballot on Demand], and it seemed contacted them via postcard between September 10- like we had a better turnout from 14, and invited them to register online. From this these voters [military and overseas effort, an additional 39,415 voters registered within voters] than usual.” 30 days, 32,000 of which participated as first time -County Election Official voters. This number itself represented a 5.2% increase in registrations for Colorado, while other states participating in the ERIC project averaged only a 2- 3% increase.6 And because the majority of these people registered online, it saved Colorado’s counties time and money. Ultimately, ERIC will fulfill its second goal by identifying people registered in more than one state using other state information, Postal Services change of address information, and Social Security Administration records. Colorado will also check for people moving into the state, and invite them to register. There are currently an additional ten states interested in joining ERIC. Colorado also participates in another state consortium aimed at finding people who vote more than once in the same election. Spearheaded by Kansas, this multi-state check is also a voluntary program and currently includes 15 participating states who submit their election results to Kansas. Using minimum matching criteria, Kansas determines if anyone voted twice in two different states. The program is expected to increase to 27 states for the next election cycle. New programs better served Uniform and Overseas Voters, who voted in record numbers. In August 2012, the Military Voter Protection Project published a report indicating that absentee ballot requests for military voters were on track to result in a significant decrease from 2008.7 The report stated that “While the number of absentee ballot requests will increase in the coming weeks, especially as the election draws near, the amount needed to meet 2008 levels is staggering…all of the states have witnessed an alarming and significant decrease in absentee ballot requests. It will be difficult to make 6 Colorado Elections Division 7 “Military Voting Update: A Bleak Picture in 2012,” Military Voter Protection Project, Chapman University, August 21, 2012. 3 2012 General Election Review: A Colorado Success Story up the difference in the coming weeks.”8 Colorado was among the states evaluated in the report. Final data regarding participation of military voters is not yet complete. It is clear, however, that in Colorado, efforts to increase military and overseas voter turnout were a huge success in 2012. Compared to 2008, Colorado issued 19.4% more ballots to military and overseas voters and witnessed a 65% increase in the number of ballots returned. In the 2008 election, military and overseas voters returned 69.6% of ballots mailed and 73.5% were counted. In 2012, military and overseas voters returned 93.6% of ballots and 97.8% were counted. According to Eric Eversole, the Executive Director of the MVP Project, "The efforts taken by the Colorado Secretary of State played a significant role in increasing military and overseas voter participation. The online systems and extended deadlines made it easier to request and receive absentee ballots--even if those requests came weeks before the election. Colorado's success was truly extraordinary given the decrease witnessed by many states in 2012." The Secretary of State launched several programs that helped account for this big increase. Colorado mailed ballots earlier and extended the deadline for receiving ballots to eight days after the election. Mail service outside the United States is often slow and can be unreliable. Extending the deadline for receiving "The efforts taken by the Colorado Secretary of State played a ballots meant that more returned ballots were significant role in increasing counted in 2012. In 2008, 61.1% of rejected military and overseas voter military and overseas ballots were not accepted participation. The online systems because the ballot was returned after the deadline. and extended deadlines made it In 2012, this percentage decreased to 13.8%. easier to request and receive absentee ballots--even if those Comparatively, 18.3% of domestic absentee requests came weeks before the ballots were rejected in 2008 because they were election. Colorado's success was received after the deadline but only 9.2% were truly extraordinary given the 9 rejected for this reason in 2012. decrease witnessed by many states in 2012." For 2012, Colorado deployed a statewide -Eric Eversole electronic ballot delivery system that greatly Executive Director, increased the speed and convenience of getting ballots to military and overseas voters. This Military Voter Protection Project system allowed voters to login and electronically download their ballots, beginning right at the 45 day mark before the election, dramatically increasing time for voters to return ballots. And it increased chances for ballots getting to voters, since mail service is often 8 Ibid, p.3 9 Colorado Elections Division 4 2012 General Election Review: A Colorado Success Story unreliable in some parts of the world. More than 9,000 Colorado voters used this system in 2012.
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