-Aspen's historic May 5, 2009 IRV election audited as single ballots- 5/5/09 Aspen CO held an instant runoff election (IRV) for mayor and 2 council members. Interpreted contents of each ballot, scanned by True Ballot, were publicly released. Open records requests for a CD of image scans were denied. Aspen has been sued to protect records from destruction and to allow inspection of the scanned ballot files. A Court of Appeals ruling holds that unidentifiable ballots are public records.

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Friday, April 2, 2010

Site Navigation by Timeline - Use this article to enter this site through links to a list of events

Timeline for Aspen Election Review:  (updated 3/24/2010)
 [ this document will be frequently updated with both new events and older materials which have not yet been linked]






Jun. 9, 2005:  Runoff vote: What's the point?


Jun. 13, 2005:  Instant runoffs in Aspen?


Jul. 2, 2005:  Go for instant runoff

Mar. 6, 2007:  Colorado Senate floor debate on ballot access via Colorado Open Records Act (CORA)olin Senate Bill 07-83

Nov. 2007: Marilyn Marks writes LTE urging voting “no” on IRV. 
Nov. 2007:  Public votes overwhelmingly for IRV.  Voters approve instant runoff voting 

Feb. 2, 2009: Aspen City Council worksession on IRV –  

Feb. 9, 2009: Aspen City Council Work Session on IRV: 

Feb 22, 2009: planned meeting on IRV postponed (but documents available on line.)


Feb. 22, 2009:  Instant runoff voting hits a nerve


Feb. 24, 2009:  Aspen council holds off on city election method


Feb 27, 2009: . final meeting of IRV task force which recommends the “True method.”


Feb. 28,2009:  Aspen task force chooses a "hybrid" voting system 

Mar. 9, 2009:  City Council approves IRV Ordinance 3   

Mar. 23, 2009: Aspen City Council- appoints Election Commission (out of normal time line)                        http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=52

May 4, 2009 “Logic and Accuracy Test”

May 5, 2009:  IRV Election Day

May 7, 2009:  “audit” performed  (interpretation check of some classes of ballots)

May 12, 2009: Harvie Branscomb contacts Marilyn Marks to inquire about election

May 18, 2009: Harvie Branscomb requests vendor status for TrueBallot, Inc. at Colorado Clerks Association meeting (request denied)

May 19, 2009:  TrueBallot Inc. informs City of Aspen of tabulation error.

May 28, 2009:  City issues press release on tabulation error


May 29, 2009: Aspen Times article "Ireland wins Aspen mayoral race again"
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090529/NEWS/905299981&parentprofile=search

June 1, 2009: CORA Request by Marilyn Marks for full ballot images as TIFFS already recorded on a CD

June 3, 2009: Nik Koumoutseas (TrueBallot, Inc) meets with Harvie Branscomb and Al Kolwicz in Boulder

June 3, 2009: Proposal for Aspen Election Review limited release

June 5, 2009:  City response to original CORA request for ballot images

June 23, 2009: Harvie Branscomb and Al Kolwicz appointed to Secretary of State Rule 45 commission

June 16, 2009:  Auditing call (national) hosts Caleb Kleppner and Marilyn Marks

July 21, 2009: Aspen City Council Worksession on IRV election- Marilyn Marks and Harvie Branscomb testify  http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=88
 
July 27, 2009: Aspen CC: in public comments, Marilyn Marks discusses a ballot question for IRV http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=91

Aug. 10, 2009: Aspen City Council: public discussion of IRV and ballot transparency in comment period: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=98


Aug. 12, 2009: Aspen Times Editorial supporting release of ballot images:
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090812/DAILYCOMMENT/908119977&parentprofile=search

Aug. 24, 2009: Aspen CC discusses ballot question re. IRV:
http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=128

Sep. 14 2009: Aspen CC discusses funds for outside counsel for Election Commission: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=136


Sep. 29, 2009:  Aspen CC- public comments by Marilyn Marks and Harvie Branscomb about election review: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=144

Oct. 9, 2009: Harvie Branscomb and Marilyn Marks inspect some “other election records” at Aspen City Hall

Oct. 26, 2009:  Aspen City Council: Jack Johnson makes his claims against Marilyn Marks and Election Commission in public comments: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=177


Nov. 6, 2009: Marks v. Koch: KATHRYN KOCH'S MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO DISMISS

Nov. 9, 2009:  Aspen CC- public comment by Marilyn Marks, Jack Johnson, Phyllis Bronson: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=186

Nov. 13, 2009:   CORA Request to inspect audited ballots by Harvie Branscomb

Nov. 13, 2009:  CORA Request to receive copies of ballot  images shown on election night by Harvie Branscomb



Dec 30, 2009: CORA request to Secretary of State by Harvie Branscomb concerning advice to Aspen

Jan. 8, 2010: Marks v. Koch: 1st case management conference

Jan. 20, 2010 CORA Request by Harvie Branscomb for meta data and spoiled ballots and ballot storage seal numbers


Jan 25, 2010:  Aspen City Council meeting: Neil Siegel discusses IRV question in public comments: http://aspenpitkin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=198

Jan. 28, 2010: Marks v. Koch: 2nd case management conference






Mar. 8, 2010: Marks v. Koch: 3rd case management conference


Mar. 10, 2010 Aspen Daily News:  BREAKING NEWS: Judge dismisses Marks’ suit against city

March 10. 2010: Aspen Times:   Judge tosses suit over ballot images
March 11, 2010: Cover letter to City Council and LTE for Aspen Daily News by Harvie Branscomb

Mar. 11, 2010  Judge dismisses Marks’ suit
Mar. 11, 2010:  Judge tosses lawsuit over Aspen ballot images




City wins round one with Marilyn Marks


Mar. 13, 2010:  Guest opinion: A blow to election transparency (Guest opinion by Marilyn Marks)

Mar. 13, 2010: Bravo, Marilyn (letter by Harvie Branscomb)

Mar. 17, 2010: Su Lum: Slumming: Get the message, Marilyn? It's time to move on

Mar. 20, 2010: Su nailed it


Mar. 20, 2010: Consider these embarrassing episodes

Mar. 23, 2010: The cover-up continues (letter by Marilyn Marks)

Mar. 23, 2010: A double standard

Mar. 23, 2010:  a defender of democracy


Mar. 23, 2010: Council appoints new election 
commission

Mar. 24, 2010:  City seeking attorneys’ fees in IRV election suit

Mar. 24, 2010: Su Lum: Slumming




No retractions to last week's column

Mar. 24, 2010:  In its defense: Aspen plans to recoup money from legal foe




City attorney says he will pursue attorneys fees from Marilyn Marks



March 25, 2010: Aspen's Marks asks judge to reconsider

March 26, 2010: Aspen asks judge for $70K in legal fees in Marks suit
Local government claims lawsuit over May election ballot images was ‘vexatious' 
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100326/NEWS/100329865

March 26, 2010: City looks to hit Marks with $70K legal bill

Mar. 26, 2010:  Dump IRV
March 31, 2010:  We have a problem (letter by Andy Lang)
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100331/LETTER/100339988

April 1, 2010: Mayor Ireland disembowels 14 citizens for exceeding three-minute comment limit (humorous April Fools references to Marilyn Marks)

http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/139965



April 1, 2010: Like, constitutional rights and stuff (fake letter purported to be by Marilyn Marks)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/139968

April 2, 2010:   Fine the annoyers (humorous response to above letter by Marilyn Marks)

April 2, 2010: The city still amazes (letter by Roine St. Andre)

April 2, 2010:  Thank your lucky stars for Marks (letter by Kathy Dopp)

April 2, 2010: A brave cause (letter by Roy Lipscomb)
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100402/LETTER/100409979/


April 4, 2010: More blah from Marks (a letter about the Apr. 1 humor letter exchange)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/140017

April 4, 2010: Aspen Daily News editorial by owner Dave Danforth (related to exposing anonymous bloggers and briefly mentions Aspen election issue): The rule of thick skins
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/140010

April 6, 2010: A few misconceptions ( aptly named letter by the City of Aspen public relations director)
http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/letter-editor/140037

April 7, 2010: Aspen deserves answers: (letter by Mike LaBonte)
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20100407/LETTER/100409868/1020&parentprofile=1061

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