[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of La Plata County

La Plata League Studies Archive

Studies_Archive

Archive of La Plata League Studies for 2007-2009

Mail-in Ballot Project 2009.  Popular Vote Study 2009.  LWVUS Immigration study 2007-2009.  LWVUS Position Immigration.  Letters and References Immigration.

LWVLPC Mail-in, Early and Provisional Ballot Research Project 2009

*updated 8/21/09: The report describing the processes used in La Plata County to tabulate mail-in, early and provisional ballots has been updated and is available by clicking MEP project results
This research was conducted by a LWV La Plata team as a result of the fact that a great majority of votes cast in the 2008 election were either early or via mail-in ballot. While the processing of ballots voted in polling places on election day is conducted in a familiar manner, the question was raised regarding how and when ballots voted via other means were collected and tabulated. The report summarizes the processes used, along with a few concerns and recommendations.


*Background of the Project: The Colorado State statute passed in 2007, which authorized permanent mail-in ballots to be requested by registered voters, and the growing popularity of early voting, even though it is limited to just two places in the county, resulted in over 50% of votes cast in La Plata County in the November 2008 General Election to be either mail-in or early. During discussions with various LWV-La Plata members, election judges and others, and a quick look at the state statute governing mail-in ballots, which leaves process definition to county governments, it became clear that none of us was familiar with the process used by local officials to tabulate such ballots. In addition, we had differing views of when, if or how provisional ballots were tabulated.
*Project Scope
At a Voter Service meeting held in January, and with the agreement of the Administrative Team, we decided to convene a team to examine the processes used for tabulating such votes in La Plata County. The scope of this project covers all Federal, State, County, City and School District Elections held in La Plata County and includes processes used for distribution, collection and counting of ballots other than those voted in-person on Election Day and handed out by an Election Judge at a Precinct. Special District elections are not included at this time.
*Methodology for the Research Project
Our methodology consists of interviews to be conducted with City, County and School district officials, based on a detailed questionnaire developed by the team. Following these interviews we will analyze the results and prepare a report for all our League members to review, and based on our findings decide how to publicize our results and whether we should launch a formal local study later this year.
*Coordination with Previous Studies
Further, in 2005-6, LWV La Plata completed a study regarding the use of Vote Centers in La Plata County. The study resulted in a position adopted by the membership that endorsed the application of vote centers providing that certain conditions were met in the coming years. The county is moving on a path that brings it closer to meeting these requirements and the popularity of mail-in and early voting demonstrates that eliminating many of the existing precincts might not constitute a hardship for rural residents. The economic advantages of Vote Centers may become the tipping point in their favor. Consequently, following this research project, it is recommended that we review the results of the VC Study for current relevance and action.
*Committee members
Committee members are: Nadine Ancel, Susanne Becker, Enid Brodsky, Marilyn Brown, Ann Flatten, Jill Patton, Trish Pegram, Marilyn Sandstrom, Elaine Slade, Jim Irish, Mary Alice Hearn, Julie Ward, Sherri Knight, Maria Baker, Connie Jacobs
-Ellen Park, Project Chair

  • Reference materials:
    click MBquestionaire to see the mail_in ballot interview questions.

*10/20/09 Aspen Daily NewsNo poll watchers yet for mail-in election an interview with Ellen Park regarding mail-in elections and the LWVLPC 2009 report


*10/11/09 Durango Herald: League of Women Voters examined the count of 2008 mail-in ballots by Ellen Park
Did you mail in your vote last year, and was it counted? The League of Women Voters of La Plata County pursued the answer to this question earlier this year. Mailing in ballots + or voting early + for candidates running for elected offices is becoming the norm for voters in La Plata County, rather than going to a polling place on Election Day to cast votes. These popular capabilities resulted in about 70 percent of ballots cast in La Plata County in the November 2008 general election to be either mail-in, or early...

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LWVLPC National Popular Vote Study 2009

*May 2009: click LWVUS National Popular Vote (NPV) Consensus Report to read the National Popular Vote Consensus Report from LWVUS


*May 2009:click Letter from the President to read a letter from LWVUS President Mary Wilson on the National Popular Vote Consensus Results


*5/22/09: The Following news regarding the NPC Compact Study was received from LWV-US:
from Leaders' Update:
One of the items the Board considered at the Monday Board meeting was the results of the consensus process on the NPV compact study. On the recommendation of the Program Planning Committee and the NPV study committee, the Board approved the following statement of position:

The LWVUS affirms its support of the direct election of the president and abolition of the Electoral College, but the LWVUS has no position on the National Popular Vote Compact as studied in 2008-2009.

The Committee's report on the consensus process is available on the LWV-US website. Click NPV study.
Many thanks to the members of the National Popular Vote Compact Study Committee,=2 0led by LWVUS Board Member Carolie Mullan, for their hard work on this study.


*On Wednesday, April 22, 16 LWV-LPC members held a discussion and consensus session related to the LWVUS National Popular Vote Study. The session was held from 9 to 11 am in Program Room 1 of the Durango Public Library.
The LWV-LPC NPV consensus results were forwarded to LWV-US on April 24, 2009.

In preparation for this meeting attendees were encouraged to read the following informational documents:
*Delegates at LWVUS Convention 2008 voted to study the advisability of using the National Popular Vote (NPV) Compact among the states as a method for electing the U.S. President.
  • Reference materials:
    1-click resource list to see a list of National Popular Vote resources
    2-click shrinking battleground to read about the growing impacts on campaign activity
  • PRO & CON articles: click pros&cons to view PRO and CON articles related to a National Popular Vote
  • Consensus Questions" click consensus questions to view the LWV-US consensus questions related to a national Popular Vote
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LWVUS Immigration Study 2007-2009

In June 2007,The League of Women Voters launched a two-year Immigration Study aimed at helping communities understand the implications of immigration at the local, state, and federal level. As part of this project, League members and leaders will explore the underlying values and principles regarding immigration, reasons for immigration, current federal immigration policy, and the impact of immigration in American society.
Other related topics covered will include:
  • business and economic effects and impact
  • diversity
  • effects of global interdependence on migration
  • motivation of refugees, asylees and other immigrants

*Thursday, February 28, 2008- LWV of La Plata and the FLC Professional Associates will co-sponsor a Life Long Learning lecture by FLC Professor John Baranski entitled "They take our jobs".
The lecture, from 7-8:30pm in FLC 130 Noble Hall, will be based upon a look backwards at contemporary immigration debates in the US. John Baranski is Assistant Professor of History at Fort Lewis College. He has been a volunteer on local and global projects, from workers and tenant rights to ending sexual violence and war.

*January 16 and January 23, 2008, the LWV of La Plata County held two Consensus Meetings related to the LWV-US Immigration Study. These consensus meetings were held from 10 - 12pm at Christ the King Church. The next step in this consensus process will be the forwarding of our local consensus to LWVUS.
Local members were provided with a worksheet to help in the organization of their thoughts and prioritization of the issues for the local Consensus Meetings, for a copy click immigration worksheet.


*Thursday, October 25, 2007, the LWV of La Plata County held an information meeting related to the LWV-US Immigration Study. This meeting, open to the public, was held from 2 - 4pm at Christ the King Church, 495 Florida Road in Durango. LWV-US Consensus questions were read by the Study Chairman and can be viewed by clicking consensus questions (summary). Members of the LWV-LPC Immigration Study read research papers which may be viewed in the section entitled LWV-LPC Immigration Research found below.

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LWVUS Position on Immigration

*4/10/2008: LWVUS Board Adopts Immigration Position
After a lengthy and comprehensive study of this complex issue by our grassroots members, the LWVUS Board of Directors unanimously adopted the League's position on immigration which calls for a path to citizenship for current unauthorized immigrants. The 18-month study was successful thanks to the hard work of the Immigration Study Committee, led by LWVUS Board Member Carolie Mullan, and the high level of participation + 67 percent (560 Leagues). The new position provides for federal enforcement of immigration laws and full due process rights for immigrants. State and local Leagues may oppose efforts in their communities to deport, detain or harass unauthorized immigrants who have no history of serious criminal activity.

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Letters and References-Immigration

*5/2/08 Letter from Marilyn Brown, LWV-LPC, to La Plata County Board of County Commissioners, Del Alma and Los Companeros. To access the letter, click immigration position


*2/18/2008 Letter to Durango Herald Editor from Ross Park concerning Life Long Learning lecture, 2/28/08, highlighting Professor John Baranski.


*1/8/2008 Ellen Park, President, LWV-LPC
Hi Members,
The second of the 2 scheduled Immigration Consensus Meetings with take place next week. We had 21 members at the first meeting and a terrific discussion with consensus on most, but not all of the questions we covered. My own thinking was broadened by other views, and even changed on several items.
The questions stand individually and you did not have to participate in the first meeting to provide your input to the second. We will be discussing questions 2, 4b, 5 and 6 on your worksheet (let me know if you need one). Please plan to attend the discussion and the following luncheon - we look forward to seeing everyone!
Wednesday, January 23
10 AM-noon (or earlier if we are finished)
Christ the King Church
495 Florida Road
to be followed when we are done by:
Celebrate your Heritage!
Noon-1:30
Please bring a dish to share that reflects your heritage - costumes are optional! Dishes can be refrigerated and/or reheated in the church kitchen. We will provide bottled water, coffee and tea as well as cups, plates, napkins and utensils.
Ellen


*Immigration: the Great Policy Debate, Author- Marilyn Brown, published 11/25/07 Durango Herald Sunday Opinion Page

*3/2/08: New York Times Week in Review, The Border and the Ballot Box, David Leonhardt, Immigration has a fantastically complicated political history in the United States. It has produced enough populist anger to elect Know Nothing mayors of Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington and San Francisco, all in the 1850s and, more recently, to help Lou Dobbs reinvent his television career and become a best-selling author. But when national politicians have tried to seize on such anger, they have usually failed -- and failed quickly. "While immigration has always roiled large sections of the electorate," said Eric Rauchway, a historian at the University of California, Davis, "it has never been the basis for a national election, one way or the other." For a view of the full essay, click NYT3/2/08


*for a view of Migrant Money Flow, click moneyflow (source: NY Times Nov 18, 2007)


*Immigration and America's Future: A new Chapter, A report of the independent task force on immigration and America's future, Co-Chairs: Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton, Migration Policy Institute, September 2006


*June 2007 Policy Brief from the Migration Policy Institute available on the MPI website

Their discussion regarding Migrant Remittances presents a perspective on immigration you may not have thought of. Excerpts from the summary of the article by Dilip Ratha, senior economist and manager of Migration and Remittances Team at the World Bank are as follows: Migrant remittances are the most tangible and perhaps the least controversial link between migration and development. Remittances have become a major source of external development finance. In 2006, recorded remittances sent home by migrants from developing countries reached $206 billion, more than double the level in 2001. The true scale of remittances, including unrecorded flows through formal and informal channels, is believed to be even larger. [The article itself says these remittances are almost as large as foreign direct investment and more than twice as large as the official aid received by developing countries.] Remittances provide a convenient angle for approaching the complex migration agenda. They play an effective role in reducing poverty. Since remittances are personal flows from migrants to their friends and families, they tend to be well targeted to the needs of the recipients. And these flows typically do not suffer from the governance problems that may be associated with officialflows...A strong flow of remittances can also improve the receiving country's credit-worthiness, lowering their cost of borrowing money in the international markets...


*June 11, 2007, Immigration Policy in the 21st Century, Video presentation by Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow, Migration Policy Institute. To view click Meissner video
If you experienced difficulties viewing the video, click Meissner summary

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