Pueblo Not Waiting For Decision On Mailing Ballots

DENVER (AP) - A dispute over which Colorado voters should get ballots by mail has a new wrinkle: military voters.

Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder Gilbert "Bo" Ortiz told the state's top elections officer that Pueblo will mail ballots to all military voters, both active and inactive.

Secretary of State Scott Gessler has sued the city of Denver for planning to mail ballots to all eligible voters, even those considered inactive because they didn't vote last time. Gessler says that violates the law.

The question has political overtones because Gessler is a Republican, and Denver and Pueblo are predominantly Democratic. On Tuesday, Ortiz sent a letter to Gessler saying he'd go ahead and mail ballots to all eligible military voters on Friday unless Gessler gives him an "express order" not to send them.

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