ELECTION INTERFERENCE BY OUR COUNTY CLERK!!!!!
Deputy Meyer and Me
Here’s the deal, Friends…
I volunteered to work our Gilpin County election. I know the rules. I obey the rules. Yesterday, our County Clerk, Sahari McCormick, dismissed me for no cause. I wanted to follow the Colorado Secretary of State Election Rules, but she has created her own rules and they contradict the State rules. She refused to allow me to see the mail-in ballot envelope signatures so that we can attest to the fact they are legitimate. That is the job of a Signature Verification Judge. The law allows Watchers to observe the procedure and alert a County election official if you find a discrepancy. Sahari refused. I refused to leave the post. We now have no experienced Signature Verification Watchers this entire week of voting.
She called the Sheriff. I was given the choice to leave with him, or get handcuffed, arrested, taken to jail overnight to be arraigned this morning. I chose to be escorted off the premises.
Deputy Meyer was just doing his job, explained he had to respond to Sahari’s complaint, and said he doesn’t want to arrest me. He had only arrested one other Grandma, but it was for a DUI. This was probably less exciting for him. But he walked me out and told me I had to move my vehicle off the premises. It was sad to see what this county has come to…it didn’t hurt as much because he is so cute! 😂😇 (Thank God for a sense of humor)!
Sahari McCormick accused me of disrupting the election process.
No, I didn’t.
My story/response to her charges against me is attached below. Please read it and let me know how you feel about the situation. I would really like to know. Photos of the room are included.
Following my letter to Sahari is today’s Weekly Register-Call article about the incident.
Please, friends, stand up for your rights! It’s not always easy, but we MUST!
A question for you…WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE? Please read (even though it’s long) and let me know.
Thank you so much,
Donna
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Sahari sent me a letter dismissing me as a Watcher for the rest of this election:
My response to Sahari’s actions and accusations:
Dear Clerk McCormick,
Your Dismissal Letter to me regarding your action to have me removed as a Signature Verification Watcher from the courthouse premises yesterday by a Sheriff Deputy escort were based on your sole false complaints against me - again! I am filing a Complaint against you with the Secretary of State of Colorado in your role as Gilpin County Clerk and Recorder. A copy of this letter will be included in that Complaint.
You have been unprofessional, unprepared, flustered, bullying and rude as you try to force your own rules, rather than enforce State of Colorado Rules of Elections for Watchers. You cannot refuse to let Watchers see the signatures on the ballot envelopes.
Yesterday morning, your computers weren’t up and running for 90 minutes at the VSPC desk. In the Primary Election of 2024, on the first day of voting, your printers weren’t running when your first voter came in to vote. You had a newly-hired IT professional report to work on HIS FIRST DAY on the FIRST DAY of voting. Judges are not trained for Signature Verification ahead of their service time, but you sit next to them DURING THE ELECTION and tutor them as they try to learn the job.
You have refused to provide privacy for the voters as they vote on the machines in the hallway of the Courthouse! Both machines are completely open to passersby, facing both directions! I have witnessed all of this for years, and it has not improved with time.
I want to express my concern regarding the selection process for Signature Verification judges. Several individuals, including myself, have offered our services multiple times, yet you continue to choose volunteers who lack the necessary training and experience. This has resulted in first-time volunteers and those with limited computer skills taking on multiple shifts, ultimately slowing down the process. I've heard numerous complaints about how frazzled you are and how disorganized the process has become, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the untrained volunteers you've selected. It's perplexing that an elected official serving the citizens of Gilpin County would not prioritize collaboration and accept the assistance of qualified election judges. We are more than willing to support a fair election while remaining neutral regarding political party affiliations, and I can't help but question your motives in this matter.
Your newly-written rules (10/8/2024, two weeks before this election) are an overreach, and are meant to restrict Watchers from doing their State-approved job.
Something is wrong!
As to your claims against me for violating your newly-written rules for Watchers, here are my responses:
1. 7.1 - Personally disrupting any stage of the election including lodging repeated challenges of voters or mail ballots on basis that are not authorized by statute or rules are being advised that such bases are not authorized. This includes asking election workers to do anything beyond their normal scope, especially anything that would disrupt their ability to perform their duties;
RESPONSE: DENY any of that happened yesterday. I never spoke to the Signature Verification Judge. I never spoke to you about anything that you didn’t first address with me. I answered you every time you demanded I move my chair back three inches into the box you taped on the floor with, “Sahari, I have to be able to see the ballot envelope signature. Here is the Colorado Election Rule 8.10.2 which says, ‘Watchers must be permitted access that would allow them to attest to the accuracy of election-related activities. This includes personal visual access at a reasonable proximity to read documents, writings or electronic screens and reasonable proximity to hear election-related discussions between election judges and electors.’” You told me several times in a raised voice and an ugly gaze: “NO YOU DON’T HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK TO SEE THE BALLOT ENVELOPES! YOU ARE NOT A JUDGE, YOU ARE A WATCHER, AND YOU ARE HERE TO OBSERVE THE PROCESS ONLY, NOT TO CHALLENGE THE JUDGE’S DECISION!” My question is…Why is a Watcher role included in Colorado Election Rules if we have no right to question an obvious discrepancy in the ballot signature? You have no right to usurp Colorado Election Rules. After all the drama you created, the Signature Verification Judge started holding the envelopes in a position where I could see the signatures, rather than laying them flat on the desk in front where they could not be seen.
Then you had the Sheriff’s Deputy arrive and told him I was being dismissed for disrupting the process of the election. That’s a lie. I was doing what the Rules allow me to do. Observe the Judge. You were creating a huge disturbance because you forbid me to make challenges, IF THEY HAPPENED, which hadn’t even happened. You lost control, which is what the real problem is here. You believe you have all the control to run an election in your own way, your own rules. Instead, you are interfering with the election process as set out in Colorado Secretary of State Election Rules.
2. 7.7 - Having in their open and visible possession any mobile phone or other electronic device while watching election activities where voters' confidential or personally identifiable information is within view;
RESPONSE: DENY. Here is the law:
Section 1-7-108. Requirements of watchers.
(4) (a) A county clerk and recorder or designated election official shall revoke the certificate of a watcher who uses a mobile phone or other electronic device to take or record pictures or video in any polling location or other place where election activities are conducted and where voters' confidential or personally identifiable information is within view. (b) Nothing in subsection (4)(a) of this section prohibits a watcher from using a phone to send or receive text messages while watching election activities so long as the watcher is not located where personally identifiable information is within view.
My phone was in my attache case until you told me I was dismissed and you were calling the Sheriff. I then took out my phone to text my husband and friend, describing what you had been doing to me since I walked in that morning…bullying me, disrespecting me, and refusing me access to the ballot envelope signatures. I told them the cops were on the way and I may be arrested!
As I read the law, I was within my rights. There were no screens with personal information at the time, and no ballot envelope signature I could see. At that point, I took two photos to prove I could not see the ballot envelope signature from where you forced me to sit, and how my chair was within the blue tape you placed on the floor. That is how ridiculous this is! The pictures show there was no personal information on the screen and how unreasonable you behave as a Clerk, in charge of this election. You have no right to tell a Watcher where they can sit in order to “attest to the accuracy of election-related activities. This includes personal visual access at a reasonable proximity to read documents…”. You told me the Judges do not have to show me the ballot envelope signature. The State Election Rules disagree. Did you tell your Judges the same? If so, why? You are breaking the rules. Not me. But you dismissed me. Because you can.
That chair was inside your “box”. This is ridiculous.
Can you read the signature on that ballot envelope? No. You cannot.
3. 7.12 - Attempting to intimidate or interfere with an election judge or other election officials during the discharge of that judge or official's duties, which includes not encroaching on an election judge's personal space, if asked to step back an Election Watcher must comply. Markers will be laid out indicating the "do not cross" area relative to Election Watcher. Watchers must comply with these markers;
RESPONSE: DENY. The picture shows where my chair was located. I was not encroaching on anyone’s space. Your perceived power is unreasonable. You looked foolish, and you were interfering with the process. My water bottle was on the Judge’s desk (as there was no other place provided for my water), but I never even stood up to retrieve my bottle. No encroachment. Just you trying to control a Watcher. Something you have done to me at every election I have served as a Watcher.
4. 7.15 - Being abusive or threatening toward election officials or voters;
RESPONSE: DENY! The only person being abusive and threatening was you, Ms. McCormick. I never commenced a conversation with you about anything. When you were loudly, rudely telling me (as I was being sworn in, filling out your checklist) that I will not be allowed to challenge a Judge’s decision but fill out your new Question Sheet to which you have 48 hours to respond, you threatened me that I initial it or you are done here…I realized you have lost your ability to follow the rules yourself and showed you the photo on my phone of the pertinent section of the Election Rules. If you consider that threatening, well…it wasn’t. You were threatening me that if I don’t follow your unreasonable demands, I can’t serve.
5. C.R.S. §1-13.5-602 (3)(a): Interrupt or disrupt the processing, verification, or counting of any ballots or any other stage of the election.
RESPONSE: DENY! As I said above (throughout) you kept interrupting the process by badgering me that I was too close. The picture proves otherwise. One leg of the chair was slightly over the blue line. Really?
Is this a Colorado Secretary of State Election Rule, or a Sahari McCormick Clerk of the County rule? It’s absurd.
Pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Election Watcher Policy any Watcher that commits any of the Prohibited Actions can be dismissed from their duties and have their Certificate of Appointment revoked. This correspondence serves as your written notice of dismissal pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Election Watcher Policy. Additionally, please be advised you are dismissed as an Election Watcher for the remainder of this election.
RESPONSE: DENY. As stated in each of my responses above, I did not break the Election Rules. You had no right to dismiss me for no cause, but this is just another poor decision you’ve made in your tenure as Clerk and Recorder of Gilpin County. You had a 71-year-old grandmother, citizen of Gilpin County doing her civic duty, and you called the Sheriff to have me removed from the premises! You did that.
I have filed this report (along with my proofs) to the Secretary of State, the Colorado State Republican Party and other agencies that protect the rights of regular folks volunteering to work their elections. This is Election Interference…your rules are preventing our right to verify signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes, which is our right under Colorado Election rules. Your actions will be addressed.
Sincerely,
Donna Okray Parman
Gilpin County Resident
WEDNESDAY’S WEEKLY REGISTER-CALL ARTICLE:
Thank you for reading, researching and sharing the light!
Donna Okray Parman
Founder, The Gilpin Light
... or call them at 303-582-5214 to voice your concerns.
Bypass lengthy voice commands by these extension numbers as soon as the system answers. It will connect you to the Commissioner's voicemail.
Marie Mornis extension - 11101
Sandy Hollingsworth extension - 11103
Susan Berumen extension - 11102
Please consider letting your Commissioners know how you feel about this situation.
