STEVE MORENO

WELD COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER

TH
1401 NORTH 17 AVENUE
P.O. BOX 459
GREELEY, COLORADO 80632
WEBSITE: www.co.weld.co.us
PHONE: (970) 304-6525
FAX: (970) 304-6566

NEWS RELEASE
October 8, 2010
Release Date: Immediately

Statement from Steve Moreno, Weld County Clerk & Recorder

On the afternoon of October 6, 2010, Sheriff John Cooke, County Attorney Bruce Barker
and I met with the Campaign Manager for Congresswoman Betsy Markey, with the
Executive Director of the Colorado Democratic Party, with representatives of the Weld
County Democratic Party, and a representative of the Voter Protection Group of
Washington, D.C. The topic of our discussion was my decision to post a uniformed
Weld County Sheriff’s deputy at each of four Weld County vote centers during the
General Election on November 2, 2010. The representatives expressed their opinion
that the presence of uniformed law enforcement officers at polling places is intimidating
to certain voters.

As Weld County’s Designated Election Official, I am sworn to provide the citizens of

Weld County with safe, fair, accurate and secure elections. It is my authority under
Colorado law to determine whether I believe circumstances warrant the posting of
Sheriff’s deputies at certain Weld County vote centers on Election Day in order to
ensure the safety of voters who exercise their right to vote at those centers. The four
vote centers involved are the Greeley Ice Haus, Tozer Elementary School, the
University of Northern Colorado, and the Weld County Training Center.

The reason for my decision is that on Election Days in 2006 and 2008, we had
situations at certain vote centers where law enforcement was needed. In each
instance, persons threatened to return to the vote center “with guns to kill people.” My
staff and I evaluated these instances and determined that it will be best for the 2010
General Election to have Sheriff’s deputies posted at certain high-volume vote centers.
Each of the four vote centers named above is expected to have high-volume. We are
not expecting delays at those vote centers; however, lines are typical at high-volume
times on Election Day. The deputies will be present to keep the peace; not to interfere
with voting. Sheriff’s deputies will not have access to the names of voters and will not
be involved with the actual process of voting. They will not be checking identifications.
I believe that the presence of uniformed officers at these vote centers will have the
effect of preventing persons from trying to interfere with the exercise of voting privileges
by registered electors. Additionally, the posting of a deputy at Tozer Elementary School
was requested by the School’s Principal.
Weld County endeavors to ensure that each election is safe, open, error free,
convenient and accessible to all registered electors. I have asked staff to list on our
website at www.co.weld.co.us (Election Department) the names and addresses of each
of the four vote centers listed above that will have a uniformed Sheriff’s deputy posted.
Voters who do not wish to vote at these centers may vote at any one of the thirty other
vote centers in Weld County, may request to vote by a mail ballot, or may vote at an
Early Vote Center before Election Day. Anyone with questions may contact my
Elections staff at (970) 304-6525, Extension 3070.

I look forward to providing a safe, fair, accurate and secure General Election on
November 2, 2010. I wholeheartedly encourage all of Weld County’s registered electors
to exercise their voting privilege on Election Day and be sure to get out and vote!