Rep. Coffman wished to target illegal immigrants
Rep. Coffman wished to target illegal immigrants as secretary of state.
By Lynn Bartels
The Denver Post
Updated: 04/07/2011 02:47:33 AM MDT
Posted: 04/07/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, while serving as Colorado secretary of state, said it would be "great" if a records search uncovered illegal immigrants with felony convictions who were registered to vote in Colorado.
Coffman's comments were part of a 2007 e-mail chain referencing a news story about 10 noncitizens charged in Arizona for registering to vote.
"What would be really compelling would be that somehow we could get a list of illegals who have been convicted of felonies and who are registered to vote," Coffman wrote.
"Something like that would be great."
The e-mail has been in the public eye for several years, but it's being looked at in a new light because the current secretary of state, Republican Scott Gessler, is concerned that noncitizens might have illegally registered to vote.
Coffman, a Republican from Aurora, said the issue was a concern when he ran for secretary of state in 2006. Proof of fraud "would have given me the leverage to get the legislation passed to tighten up the voter registration system," he said.
Coffman said nothing came of his request because the office initially didn't have the capability of cross-checking with other databases.
State Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver, shook her head Wednesday as she read the e-mail.
"We have been asking and asking for proof that people illegally voted, and there isn't any, and why we continue to have energy spent on this is beyond me," she said.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/c ... z1IuQRTka8
