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Steamboat Springs — As the 2008 session of the state Legislature nears its midpoint this week, it is distressing that no solution has been reached for how to conduct 2008 elections in Colorado - and that Gov. Bill Ritter, legislative leaders and many county clerks are in disagreement about proposed ballot legislation.

The most widely anticipated presidential election in recent memory should not be jeopardized by a protracted political process. It would be an incredible shame if long lines at polling locations or questions about ballot accuracy disenfranchised the expected record turnout of voters in November.

But as the clock keeps ticking with no policy in place, such worst-case scenarios are increasingly plausible.

Routt County Clerk and Recorder Kay Weinland said Tuesday that the Colorado County Clerks Association strongly opposes Senate Bill 189, which is supported by Ritter and would require the primary use of paper ballots at polling locations across the state. State Sen. Ken Gordon, a Denver Democrat, is sponsoring SB 189. The bill would significantly limit the use of electronic voting machines, which have faced questions about reliability and certification by Secretary of State Mike Coffman.

The Senate's state affairs committee is scheduled to vote on the bill today.

Weinland said relying on paper ballots could cost Colorado counties, and taxpayers, far more than the $3.5 million appropriated in SB 189. It also could cause substantial delays in results. Routt County, for example, has just two optical scanners to count paper ballots. Other counties have stated a need to purchase more scanners if paper ballots are the chosen method for 2008 elections.

"Changing current election law in this manner is not necessary, is fiscally irresponsible and extremely difficult to implement at this late hour in the election planning cycle," reads a statement from the County Clerks Association, which includes representation from all 64 counties in the state. "Election officials are elected by their constituents and should be given the tools and flexibility that they believe are necessary to administer successful elections for Colorado voters."

Routt County appeared to be on track to get the election tools it needed. After a 2006 election that saw long delays at polling locations across the county, a bipartisan citizens' committee recommended the purchase of 20 additional electronic voting machines.

Routt County Commissioners supported that purchase, only to have the machines called into question by Coffman in December 2007. Routt County's electronic voting machines, manufactured by Texas-based Hart InterCivic, now are conditionally certified. Last week, Coffman certified Hart equipment used to count ballots.

But Weinland and Routt County Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak say purchasing additional electronic voting machines still is not fiscally responsible.

"At this point, I think that probably I would need more certainty from the state that we would be able to use them," Stahoviak said Tuesday. "It's very frustrating to me that the state won't let us use any and all means for citizens to vote."

In November 2007, an editorial in this space called for such flexibility, saying "additional machines, combined with early and mail-in voting options, will provide the most complete and appropriate means for local voters to cast their ballots come Election Day 2008."

We still endorse an election policy that presents the most choices, security and flexibility to voters. We again ask lawmakers, the governor and county officials to recognize the urgency of this need.

"We've been set back on our timelines and sidetracked," Weinland said. "We need some answers so we can move forward - with whatever our plan is."

The ticking clock is growing louder by the day.