From North Forty News: Dear Angela: Thanks for your phone conversation on the afternoon of Nov. 4 relating to my unsuccessful attempt to take pictures earlier that day at the River of Life election polling place in Wellington.

As we discussed, you’re now aware that I was told erroneous information by Doreen Bellfy, an employee of your office who is the Elections Manager for Larimer County. County employees and volunteers at the polling place were also told the erroneous information.

Ms. Bellfy had a host of limitations that she said the Larimer County Clerk and Recorder’s office had placed on press visits to polling places, including that:

• All press visits to a polling place needed to be cleared through your office first.
• Rules and requirements for press visits to polling places are dictated by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Election Rules, specifically rule number 8, and those rules state that the press needed prior approval before taking pictures at a polling place.
• Members of the press needed “credentials” to access a polling place (although I was never told what the correct credentials were).

During my visit to the polling place, I produced two different business cards showing that I own and publish the North Forty News. I was also wearing an embroidered shirt bearing the North Forty News’ logo. In addition, I produced two cards imprinted with the word “PRESS” in giant letters. One was (mistakenly provided to the poll workers) from my previous job at The News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash. and one was a 2011 press card issued to the North Forty News by the Colorado Press Association.

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