SAFER (Safer Alternatives for Enjoyable Recreation) is planning to file paperwork to get a marijuana legalization bill on the fall ballot, according to the Denver Post [May 9, 2004, "Group to ask Denver voters to legalize pot"]. From the article, "SAFER proposes that Denver legalize possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana by anyone 21 or older. But Assistant City Attorney David Broadwell said that even if such a measure passed, state law outlawing marijuana possession as a Class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100, would still apply in Denver. If the commission approves the petition and ballot-question language, SAFER would need to gather 5,383 signatures from registered Denver voters to get the question on the November ballot. That threshold represents 5 percent of the votes cast in Denver's last mayoral runoff. Tvert said the group supports legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana to free police resources to combat a more damaging substance: alcohol."
The Denver Post editorial staff is urging Governor Owens to sign SB 198/206 [May 9, 2005, "An election system that voters can trust"]. They write, "The key provisions of SB 198 required counties to implement verifiable paper trails to back up electronic voting machines by 2010. Chris Castilian, the governor's chief lobbyist, called it an 'unfunded mandate' that would cost the counties a great deal of money. Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, the bill's chief sponsor, said 'it's important for people to have a verifiable paper trail so we can verify elections. ... It's very important for Americans to have confidence in the results of elections.' That's the key. SB 206 was put forth by the secretary of state based on recommendations from an advisory panel. Its key provision required people who conduct voter registration drives to register with the secretary of state and turn in registration forms within five days. It prohibits those people conducting the drives from paying workers based on the number of applications they hand out or collect. We strongly endorse this provision. The practice of paying per application practically invites fraud."
Category: Denver November 2005 Election
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