Legislation Would Allow Coffman To Recertify, Retest Voting Machines

State Rep. David Balmer (R-Centennial) filed legislation Wednesday morning authorizing Secretary of State Mike Coffman to rescind his decertification of most of the state's electronic voting machines and allow Coffman to retest the machines.

Under the bill, Coffman would be allowed to amend or rescind orders he issued Dec. 17 decertifying electronic voting machines in 52 or the state's 64 counties.

He would also be permitted to retest voting machines if "experienced personnel" from a county clerk or recorder's office is allowed to operate the machines during the testing.

Coffman would also be prevented from relaxing existing standards for voting systems, and he would have to explain the reasoning behind the decision to adjust the certification of electronic voting machines, the Rocky Mountain News reported. 

The legislation is co-sponsored in the House by state Rep. Rosemary Marshall (D-Denver). Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver) and state Sen. Steve Johnson (R-Fort Collins) are sponsoring the legislation in the state Senate.

The legislation, HB1155, is available on the Colorado Legislature Web site. 

The bill does not address the method by which elections would be conducted. Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon (D-Denver) has said "the decision has pretty much been made" to use paper ballots, according to the Denver Post. But legislation regarding election method won't be introduced until at least next week, the Post reported.