Former clerk and recorder’s office staffer investigated for voter fraud

A former staffer of the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s office is being investigated for voter fraud.

Clerk and recorder Wayne Williams said former staffer Alissa Vander Veen moved to Pueblo last year but voted in September’s recall election in El Paso County.

Ryan Parsell, public information officer for the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s office’s wouldn’t talk specifically about Vander Veen’s case, but he said there are a number of holes in Colorado law and avenues that make it easier for people to commit voter fraud. He said things like same-day voter registration and voters not updating their voting addresses are some of those avenues.

“We’re always working hard to protect against voter fraud, but Colorado law doesn’t allow any clerk to do a lot proactively, only reactively,” Parsell said.

The clerk’s office passes on cases of possible voter fraud, including Vander Veen’s, to the district attorney’s office.

“I’m glad to know that we apply the same standard to every citizen in El Paso County, that no person is shown any sort of favoritism because of their connection to this office or its staff,” Parsell said.

He said any wrongdoing reflects on an individual, not his or her current or former employer.