Clerks: ‘There are no ‘smoke and mirrors’ around the electoral process’

BY CARLY KOPPES AND TIFFANY LEE

With the General Election less than four months away, election administrators nationwide are probably feeling as we do right now: apprehensive about our nation’s divisive political atmosphere and the challenges that come with any election season, but confident in our ability to do our jobs.

As two county clerk and recorders who help facilitate participation in the democratic process, we have the highest confidence in our modern voting systems and the firsthand knowledge to attest to their accuracy and reliability. But unfortunately, some Americans are increasingly doubting the reliability of elections and the local election administrators like us who oversee them.

Together, we have nearly 50 years of combined experience working in elections. That experience for us is a source of pride and an assurance to the public that we know how to run fair, secure elections. So, as Nov. 5 approaches, it’s important for us to speak out and impart accurate information about how the electoral process works, address common misconceptions and share about our efforts to promote safe, secure elections.

As any election administrator in Colorado and across the U.S. can tell you, each of our jurisdictions is geographically, culturally, economically and otherwise unique, and the rules that govern local elections vary from state to state. However, there are a few important things jurisdictions nationwide have in common, including that all states have bipartisan oversight of the election process; election officials receive ongoing instruction to keep them up-to-date on the laws, procedures and best practices of administering elections; and transparency requirements are built into all election protocols.

At the local level, there are several common misconceptions concerning the electoral process that we routinely receive questions about, including voter list maintenance. We are required to follow strict procedures under the National Voter Registration Act before we remove voters or update their information on our rolls, and we’re always willing to explain how it works to voters with questions.

We also field questions about the security of our voting equipment; our voting machines are federally certified and undergo rigorous preelection testing. Ballot scanning and tabulation equipment are not – despite the common misbelief – connected to the internet.

Another widely circulated piece of misinformation is that hand-counting ballots is the only safe, secure way to count votes. As election officials, we know firsthand that this is incorrect. Research shows that in fact our voting machines are more accurate and reliable than hand-counting, which allows for human error, particularly when we and our staff are tired after a long election day.

Like election administrators everywhere, we want the democratic process to be transparent. We each offer in-depth explanations addressing the aforementioned concerns and more on our county websites. In our respective communities, we each continue to meet with our constituents when they have questions; offer tours, videos and public meetings about elections; and work with our local parties and candidates when we can to disseminate accurate information.

Despite what election deniers and those who perpetuate false election claims say, there are no “smoke and mirrors” around the electoral process. Ranking third in the nation in the Elections Performance Index, Colorado is considered a leading example of what safe, secure and efficient elections look like, thanks to reforms and policies over the past decade that have made it easier than ever for voters to exercise their democratic right.

There is a longstanding joke that election administrators only work on election days. In truth, it’s a full-time job, as elections take months of preparation to ensure the voting process is secure, accessible and as simple as possible for voters to cast their ballots. We also participate in trainings and avail ourselves of resources year-round to maintain and expand our expertise in elections, because there is always more to learn. Fellow election administrators must remember to trust in their knowledge and remember there are election officials across the nation who empathize with the challenges of the job and support them in their work. There are both state-level and national networks like the Colorado County Clerks Association and the Elections Group through which they can connect with other election administrators and share resources, ideas and strategies.

Both of us started in this profession as teenagers, and it’s only in recent years – as election denialism and misinformation have become more commonplace – that we’ve each had our integrity, ethics and knowledge as election administrators questioned. But election officials have come together in this new political landscape and done amazing work. Not only have we continued to improve processes and messaging around elections, we’ve also built stronger support networks. We believe strongly in what we do, and as long as we are in public office serving our communities, we will continue to fight to uphold voters’ rights, election security and our democracy.

Carly Koppes is the clerk and recorder serving Weld County, and Tiffany Lee is the clerk and recorder serving La Plata County. Both are contributors to Democracy is on the Ballot, a program of Western Leaders Network amplifying the voices of tribal, local and state elected officials on protecting democracy and free and fair elections.