Secret Ballot Watch

If the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law and sets aside the secret ballot for workers, voters in Colorado will have a chance to set it back.

The Centennial State’s Supreme Court recently declared the three – count ‘em, three – ballot initiatives to protect the secret ballot are fair under state law. The Daily Camera praised this decision and weighed in on the debate here:  

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“The misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, which would effectively end secret voting by employees in union elections, potentially faces a hurdle in Colorado.  

“On Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court said three initiatives that would protect the secret ballots are fair under current state election law. The tentative measures would potentially be put to Colorado voters should Congress pass the Employee Free Choice Act; they would retain secret ballots in union voting here. …  

“Secret ballots should be protected, and even treasured, by those who want individuals to retain their right to make their own choices.  

Stutzman, “Protect Secret Ballots,” Daily Camera (Boulder, CO), 10.14.09 

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Colorado is just the latest state to take action against EFCA. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that state laws could trump this job-killing federal mandate - which leaves Coloradoans and workers across the nation at risk, with or without popular ballot initiatives. Clearly, secret ballot elections are important to many people in many different places. Why can’t EFCA supporters see this?

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