Changes to November ballot aim to make things clearer

The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners voted to change some wording on the November ballot to make things clearer.

One of the things voters in El Paso County will decide on this November is the amount of time some officials are in office. They voted on this back in 2010 but some think the wording back then was too confusing.

“I think it could’ve been worded much more clearly, much more succinctly,” said Commissioner Peggy Littleton.

The question in 2010 asked if the county clerk, commissioners and some other elected offices should be term-limited after three terms. Voters chose three, but some say they didn’t realize that changed it from a two-term limit.

Now the county is asking the same question, but hopefully eliminating any confusion.

The proposal says, if you vote yes, there will be a change, and the limit will go back to two years. If you vote no, there won’t be a change, and the limit will stay at three years.

“There has never been a question in El Paso County that has been so clear in terms of telling the voters exactly what a yes vote will do or what a no vote will do,” said Commissioner Chair Amy Lathen.

The change in wording passed three to two, with Commissioners Darryl Glenn and Peggy Littleton voting no.

“For me it’s a conflict of interest to put something on the ballot when you receive remuneration from that,” Littleton said. “To me it’s an ethical question, I would’ve recused myself.

She says even if voters choose to reduce term limits to two years, they still won’t get their wish because two commissioners will be grandfathered and still keep their three terms.

She also said the language still isn’t clear enough.