FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
October 30, 2015
Contact:
Sam Mahood (916) 653-6575
MEDIA ADVISORY
Secretary of State Alex Padilla to Observe Denver Elections
Secretary of State Alex Padilla will lead a delegation—including California legislators and Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley—to Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday, November 3, to observe the Colorado coordinated election first hand. Colorado is considered a national leader in elections administration. Colorado innovations include mailing every registered voter a ballot in advance of elections, early voting, and vote centers in place of traditional polling locations.
SB 450, sponsored by Secretary Padilla and authored by Senators Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), would allow California counties to adopt a new elections model that includes many of the innovations successfully implemented in Colorado.
“I am committed to modernizing elections to provide California voters more options for when, where, and how to vote,” Secretary Padilla said. “Colorado’s reforms are boosting voter turnout and decreasing election costs. California should adopt similar innovations to increase voter turnout.”
PRESS RELEASE: Secretary Padilla Announces SB 450 to Modernize California Elections
Despite historically low turnout across the nation in 2014, Colorado had the third highest voter turnout in the nation. Following the implementation of new reforms, the cost per voter to administer the 2014 General Election in Denver dropped nearly 36% compared to the 2010 General Election.
“We are excited to welcome Secretary Padilla and the California delegation to observe the policy and technical innovations at work to provide Denver citizens with a fair, accurate, secure, transparent, innovative and cost-effective voting experience,” Director of Denver Elections Amber McReynolds said.
Visit DenverVotes.org for more information on the November 3, 2015 coordinated election.
Secretary Padilla will visit vote centers to view early voting and Election Day operations, meet with Colorado election officials to discuss best practices, and observe the close of polls and tabulation of votes on election night.
- WHO:
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Secretary of State Alex Padilla
Senator Ben Allen – Chair, Senate Elections Committee
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)
Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles)
Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley (serves as President of the California Association of Clerks and Elections Officials)
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- WHEN:
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Tuesday, November 3, 2015
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- WHERE:
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Denver, Colorado
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- CONTACTS:
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Secretary Padilla: Sam Mahood, (916) 653-6575
Denver Elections: Alton Dillard, (720) 865-4872
Senator Ben Allen: Colleen Beamish, (916) 651-4026
Assemblymember Gonzalez: Evan McLaughlin, (916) 319-2080 or (619) 850-2790
Assemblymember Gomez: Aaron Keshishian, (818) 624-4282, Aaron.Keshishian@asm.ca.gov
Orange County Registrar of Voters: Angela Garbiso, (714) 567-7631
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