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Grand County votes to adopt Clear Ballot voting system amid staff and training concerns
Summary
After public comment and a lengthy discussion of training and vendor support, the Grand County Board of County Commissioners approved the clerk's recommendation to switch the countyvoting system from Dominion/Liberty to Clear Ballot and authorized the chair to sign contract documents.
The Grand County Board of County Commissioners voted Dec. 23 to accept the county clerk's recommendation to adopt the Clear Ballot voting system, authorizing the chair to sign the contract documents.
The decision follows more than an hour of public comment and commissioner discussion about training, vendor support and timing. Liz Newsome, an election judge from Granby, told the board that switching systems during a busy election cycle "introduces unnecessary risk for Grand County" and that staff experience running full elections should guide any change. Joni Morris, the clerk's elections lead, said Clear Ballot is "more intuitive" and "easier to use," adding that "if someone comes in behind me, I feel confident they could learn the system pretty quickly." The clerk's office argued the ease of training mattered as seasoned election staff leave and new judges join.
Commissioners discussed vendor experience, contract length and the need to support the clerk's office operationally. One commissioner said both systems are state-certified and emphasized that "the people operating the system" are the key factor. County officials and several commenters noted that neither system is internet-connected — a state certification requirement — and that both vendors provide telephone or on-site support during elections.
After weighing the tradeoffs, including feedback from other Colorado counties and the clerk's office, a commissioner moved to accept the clerk's recommendation for Clear Ballot. The motion passed and the chair was authorized to sign all applicable documents. The county will follow the contract and implementation schedule presented to the board and prioritize staff training and any needed outside assistance before upcoming elections.
Next steps include finalizing the contract with the vendor, scheduling training for county election staff and, as commissioners noted, ensuring the clerk has resources to run the transition alongside regular election duties.
