The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder is under scrutiny again. The Democratic Party claims Bob Balink isn't being fair with the election process.

This all started about a month ago when allegations surfaced that Colorado College students were given the wrong voter registration requirements. Clerk and Recorder Balink has since apologized for giving the students the wrong information.

But now, the Democrats said they question his competency to run a fair and clean election. This, Democrats said, after glitches continue to come out of Balink’s office.

The most recent incident happened over the weekend when voter registration information on a completed absentee ballot request form was apparently faxed from the clerk's office to several media outlets including KKTV. The voter’s personal information was on the form, including his social security number, birth date and address.

"When asked why this got faxed, he (Balink) said, he had no clue. I suggest we get a county clerk who has a clue. Regardless of the mistake, who was he faxing this to anyway?" questioned State Senator John Morse.

Balink wasn't available for an on-camera interview, but he told 11 News he didn't know how the information got out.

"He's working on a strategy to suppress votes. He’s not working to make sure everyone gets to vote," said Sen. Morse.

Balink denies any allegations of voter suppression, releasing this statement: “They (the Democrats) can have a daily media conference claiming disenfranchisement of voters but it doesn't change the fact that there is no truth in their statement."

The one thing Balink and the Democratic Party can agree on is since this year's ballot is so long, voters are encouraged to do early voting or request an absentee ballot.

The Clerk & Recorder’s Office announced that, according to Colorado statute, Early Voting will begin Monday, October 20 - Saturday, October 25 (closed on Sunday, October 26) and resume Monday-Friday, October 27 - 31.

Three Early Voting Super Sites will be operating:
Centennial Hall Auditorium – Clerk & Recorder’s Office, 200 S. Cascade, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Chapel Hills Mall, Suite 179 – first level, below the food court, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Citadel Mall, Suite 3124 – near JC Penney, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registered voters still are able to request a Mail-In Ballot, specifically for the November General Election or on a permanent mail-in basis. To have a Mail-In Ballot sent to you, your application must be received by Tuesday, October 28. However, you have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31, to complete the application and pick up a Mail-In Ballot in person at the downtown Election Office at Centennial Hall.

All voted Mail-In Ballots must be received at the Clerk & Recorder’s Office no later than 7:00 p.m. on General Election Day, November 4.

Voting at polling places on General Election Day, Tuesday, November 4, will take place 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The locations of polling places are available on http://car.elpasoco.com/Election then link to “2008 Elections” and “2008 Polling Places.”

For information, contact the Election Department at 575-VOTE.