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11 05 24 Former Clerk and Recorder Matt Crane on the excitement of each election day
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It is election day and to walk us through the complexities of how your ballot is received, tabulated, recorded, joining us now on the KOA Commaspirate Health Hotline Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association. It's Matt Crane. Matt, welcome back to Colorado's Morning News as a former county clerk with it being election day. At this point, I know you're amped up maybe in adrenaline for the day, but it's a long process. Do you get to the point where you get a little exhausted? You get very hit softer, but if that adrenaline gets you through, it pushes you through. It's an exciting day, as you said, this is our Super Bowl, and we're ready for it and looking forward to a great day. What have county clerks already done up into this point, and what can continue throughout the day today? Well, you know, we've had the elections been really going since 45 days before the election when we sent ballots to military and overseas voters. So since then, we've been receiving ballots. We've been processing them. We've over the last couple of weeks, we've stood up our voter service and polling centers where people can go and register to vote until 7 o'clock tonight, and they can vote in person. So there's been a lot of work that's going on, but, you know, today's the day we're going to see heavy turnout, both in terms of people voting in person at VSPC, voter service and polling centers. Sorry. And then there'll be a lot of no ballots coming in all day today, so it'll be an incredibly busy day. Integrity and security of the vote, those are words. I know you hear all the time, Matt, in your space. We hear them all the time here as we cover things like this. How are we with the integrity security of the vote this year in 2024 versus 2020 versus 2016? Well, we'll far superior than where we've ever been in terms of security and integrity. We've done a lot of work. We, you know, election officials are always working to improve access and integrity. One of my favorite questions I get is when I tell people that I work in elections that they're like, "Oh, that's great. What do you do the other 364 days a year?" This is a very professional group of men and women who take this job very seriously, and they prepare day in and day out to improve the integrity, to improve the access of our elections, to continue to build voter confidence. That's one of the reasons why we have some of the best elections in the country right here in Colorado. Matt, we have ballot tracks. We have plenty of options and ways for voters to make sure that they know their ballot has been counted. But if they have any questions, discrepancies, any issues for their submitted ballot, where should they go? Well, they should contact their clerk and recorder. If they have any issues or any questions, please do that. We want people to feel good and comfortable and know that their vote is safe and been received. So please pay attention to those ballot track messages. And if you have any questions at all, contact your clerk or go to a voter service and polling center before 7 o'clock. How do you combat the misinformation and disinformation in your space? It seems to run rampant, and it must be exhausting for you to have to navigate it. But how do you, in your space, how well do you combat and deflect and try to reassure people? Well, it is tough, and there are a lot of crazy things that are put out there. Very little in the public square about what's said by some folks is actually correct and accurate. So, you know, we've tried to be much more aggressive in the public square, pushing out information about what's real and what's not, just because, you know, this disinformation campaign that's gone on for the last four or five years has really put an assault on our election process and undermine voter confidence. And look, we've seen disastrous effects of it, where you see voter turnout down because people believe that the elections aren't secure or that they're rigged, which is completely not true. And there are people that are grifting on this for political and financial purposes. They want to scare you. They want to scare you for votes. They want to scare you for money. And so, it has been more than a full-time job trying to track down all of the disinfo that's out there and then put out information into the public square to push back on that. Voter intimidation stories always pop up on Election Day. In fact, we've already seen some make national headlines across the state in just the day he's leading up to the election. How do our local counties work to protect the safety of our voters? Well, we work very hard. You know, one thing is making sure our elections are as accessible as possible without sacrificing integrity, right? We want everybody to vote and know that they can come in and vote safely. You know, we also work. We've spent a lot of time coordinating and working with law enforcement, both at all levels, local, state and federal to make sure that we can put on an election that is safe for people to participate in. But that's been a big focus as well over the last four years, is really focusing on physical security and operational security of our facilities and our operations. And not just for the voters, obviously, Matt, for you all, for the poll workers as well, because unfortunately, you all have a target on your back for the things that we've been talking about. About 100%. And that is very -- I just want to stress to people, that is very real. Election officials have faced, you know, doxxing intimidation and death threats over the last four years, one of our clerks who was pregnant a couple of years ago had her unborn child threatened. So the environment has been very intense. These things are very real. But we are pushing forward because, you know, we understand our place, you know, in the fabric of America and helping conduct free and fair elections, you know, people have fought and died for this, right? So we take this. It's an honor for us to do this work, and we take it very seriously. And people, we want people to come and vote today and vote with confidence, know their vote is going to be counted and they can do it safely, and hopefully have some fun when they come out to the polls. Executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, it's Matt Crane. Matt, thank you so much for your work today and always we really appreciate it. Hey guys, thanks for having me on. Have a great day. But there's only one feeling like knowing your banker personally, like growing up with a bank you can count on, like being sure what you've earned is safe, secure, and local. There's only one feeling like knowing you're supporting your community. You deserve more from a bank. You deserve an institution that stood strong for generations. Bank of Colorado, there's only one. Remember FDIC. With the temple life, any time, anywhere, play for free now at ChampaCasino.com. And for the adults in your life who love the coolest toys, well, there's something for them this year too. Bartetian is the premier craft cocktail maker that automatically makes more than 60 seasonal and classic cocktails, each and under 30 seconds at the push of a button. And right now, Bartetian is having a huge site-wide sale. You can get $100 off any cocktail maker or cocktail maker bundle when you spend $400 or more. So if the cocktail lover in your life has been good this year, or the right kind of bad, get them Bartetian. At the push of a button, make bar quality cosmopolitans, martinis, manhatans, and more, all in just 30 seconds, all for a hundred off. And toys aren't just for kids! Get a hundred off a cocktail maker when you spend $400 through Cyber Monday. Visit bartetian.com/coctail, that's b-a-r-t-e-s-i-a-n.com/coctail.