Date: 01/05/2015
Final
SMART Act Presentation -- Dept of State
COMMITTEE ON JOINT STATE VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
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11:40 AM -- SMART Act Presentation, Dept of State
Secretary of State Scott Gessler introduced himself and presented information about the Department of State. Committee members received a copy of the department's strategic plan and budget request for FY 2015-16 (Attachment F). Secretary Gessler discussed his accomplishments as Secretary of State and described the department's programs. He discussed the Go Code Colorado program and improvements to business filing systems.
Attachment F can be viewed at Legislative Council.
11:50 AM
Secretary Gessler discussed the performance plan goals for the Elections Division, particularly regarding training for new county clerks and their staff. He described the department's statewide elections data portal. He noted the large number of visitors the department's website receives.
11:58 AM
Secretary Gessler discussed the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in the state's voter registration system. He noted that issues with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the signature verification process are further causes of concern with the state's election system. Secretary Gessler added that there are significant problems with the state's campaign finance system, including language in the state Constitution that has been nullified by federal courts.
Secretary Gessler discussed the department's use of business filing fees to fund elections activities. He noted a pending lawsuit challenging this system under TABOR.
12:06 PM
Representative Melton and Secretary Gessler discussed the department's efforts to encourage use of the online voter registration system. Secretary Gessler explained that the department is working to give voter registration drives electronic access to the registration database.
Representative-elect Thurlow and Secretary Gessler discussed the possibility of modernizing statewide recording systems. Representative Ryden clarified with Secretary Gessler that the Department of State has its own information technology (IT) division.
Representative Ryden and Secretary Gessler discussed the outage of the state's registered voter database, known as SCORE, on Election Day. Secretary Gessler stated that the outage was the result of a portal problem in the Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT). They continued to discuss ballot distribution delays with the USPS. Discussion continued regarding mail ballot delivery.
12:20 PM
Committee members continued to discuss SCORE outages and resulting delays with Secretary Gessler. Senator Ulibarri and Secretary Gessler discussed plans for the new Secretary of State's leadership team and legislative priorities. Secretary Gessler noted that the Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff would remain in their positions, and he invited committee members to visit the department.
12:30 PM
The committee adjourned.