DENVER - Voters in Colorado are regularly faced with seemingly endless ballots, starting with candidates at the top followed by numerous initiatives. At least 39 measures filed for spots on the 2016 ballot on issues ranging from establishing single-payer health care, penalizing groups doing business with Iran, and amending the state's Bingo and Raffles Law.

Carol Hedges, executive director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute said when people don't mark up the entire ballot, they're leaving the job for others to finish.

"Sometimes up to ten percent of the folks who start at the top of the ballot don't make it through and complete the ballot and vote on the issues and initiatives at the bottom," she said. "And what Count Me In is really about is to encourage people to understand the importance of their role in shaping their communities."

Count Me In is a nonpartisan initiative launched by the Institute and a coalition of nonprofits to help voters make sense of decisions put before them in this year's presidential election. Hedges said unlike electing representatives to create laws on your behalf, ballot measures are a form of direct democracy where voters are expected to do the work of governing themselves. In 2012, an average of seven percent of voters did not complete their ballots.

She said making informed decisions on complex initiatives is a challenge for many Coloradans who don't have time to do exhaustive research on every issue. Hedges said part of the solution is to create an online information hub where voters can review opposing points of view vetted by established and reliable sources.

"So we're creating 'trusted messengers' in communities so that everybody doesn't have to start from ground zero, but they can rely on folks who they know have the kind of reputation that they can trust and believe in their judgment on issues," she added.

The Count Me In campaign is scheduling presentations and conducting trainings emphasizing the role voters play in direct democracy to get more Coloradans to vote from the bottom of the ballot up.


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Indiana will be represented by about 90 delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week.

Michael Schmuhl, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, is brimming with enthusiasm as the state prepares to send its delegation to the convention, which begins Monday. Schmuhl said the total contingent is expected to number close to 120 people, including guests and family members.

"Obviously, our convention is later than the Republican one by a few weeks," Schmuhl noted. "A lot has happened in the last month or so on the Democratic side, and there's just huge enthusiasm."

Despite Indiana not being a key presidential battleground state this cycle, Schmuhl remains hopeful. He pointed out the Democratic National Committee is investing significantly in Indiana to boost voter turnout and organize grassroots efforts.

Schmuhl also highlighted the challenges posed by the state's voter registration laws, which he believes could do more to make voting easier. Indiana is among the "reddest" states in the Midwest but Hoosiers put the state in the Democrats' column for President Barack Obama in 2008, which had not happened in the state since 1964.

"I'm hopeful that investment leads to more turnout," Schmuhl explained. "I would love to see Indiana turn 'blue.' It's a tall order, but I'm excited about not only the presidential ticket at the top, but also our statewide ticket and a lot of our down-ballot races, too."

He stressed the importance of mobilizing college students and young voters, whom he said are vital to the party's strategy.


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New survey results from AARP shed some light on the top concerns of Michigan seniors and how these issues are likely to shape their voting decisions in the November election. Voters 50 and older will be the decisive force in the battle for Congress, with higher turnout and motivation than younger voters, especially in battleground states like Michigan.

Jeff Liszt, partner at Impact Research, a Democratic public opinion firm, underscored that a significant portion of older voters will be living on fixed incomes, making Social Security a critical issue.

"Sixty-one percent said that it is, or will be, a major source of income for them; another 29% said it that it will be at least a minor source of income," he said. "So, you've got 90% of voters over 50 who are going to depend on Social Security, or are depending on Social Security."

Another key issue for Michiganders over 50 is caregiving. More than one third of Michigan women in this age group are providing care for at least one family member or friend with a health condition or disability.

Family caregivers currently lean Republican by 11 points. Pollsters say Democrats can appeal to them by supporting programs that encourage independent living, while Republicans can maintain their lead by addressing this issue.

Bob Ward, partner at Fabrizio Ward, a Republican public opinion research firm, noted this is a big issue that unites voters across party lines.

"We have data in the survey that shows that candidates who are willing to promote policies that support family caregivers - like tax credits for out-of-pocket expenses, or paid leave - these are policies that are supported by Republicans, Independents and Democrats," he explained.

Ward noted that voters over 50 will make up about 55% of the electorate in this year's presidential election. He also highlights a gender gap in the survey, with women strongly favoring Vice President Kamala Harris and men leaning toward former President Donald Trump, both by double-digit margins.

Newly released polling shows Vice President Kamala Harris holds a narrow lead or is tied with former President Donald Trump in six of the seven battleground states - and in Arizona, Harris now leads by two points. The Harris-Walz campaign has been riding what some are calling a wave of momentum. The duo drew more than 15.000 people to an arena in Glendale last week.

Corey Woods, Tempe Mayor, spoke at the rally and describes the enthusiasm surrounding the campaign as "electric." He considers the controversial right-wing Project 2025 playbook a threat to much of the progress that's been made.

"We don't want Project 2025 to roll back a lot of the critical infrastructure improvements that have happened under the Biden-Harris administration," Woods said. "I just frankly think it is very dangerous public policy."

Woods is convinced the future of U.S. democracy is at stake in this year's election. He contends the Harris-Walz ticket will work to foster what he calls "a better and more perfect union," something even some Arizona Republicans are standing by.

But former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has announced his official endorsement for Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake, writing on 'X' that "much is on the line this election year."

Woods points to an unprecedented amount of federal funding that's been overseen by the current administration - dollars he says are making real changes at the local, state and national level. As an example, he says an estimated $16 million grant has been game-changing for the Tempe Streetcar, which is set to expand its reach.

"That $16 million investment, to really make what is currently our existing Tempe-based streetcar into a regional system connecting us to the city of Mesa, is a really critical transportation infrastructure investment that is going to pay dividends for decades, if not hundreds of years to come," Woods declared.

He added those are exactly the types of investments he wants to see prioritized in the future, but he's concerned they could be in jeopardy under a second Trump administration.


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