DENVER -- A panel formed to prevent a repeat of Denver's election mess held its first meeting Wednesday.

The group, co-chaired by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, wants to come up with proposals that will reduce voting lines and delays in the future.

An elected clerk and recorder could be one of the panel's recommendations that would focus responsibility for city elections on one person.

Many voters who waited in lines for hours to cast their ballots said something needs to be done.

The group was formed to be a short-term, action-oriented investigative panel.

Over a dozen community leaders and politicians including Hickenlooper will spend the next five weeks diagnosing what went wrong on Election Day and coming up with possible solutions.

"We want to have a high-level citywide debate and discussion about how to go forth so we never see those problems again," said panel member Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriquez.

Pictures taken by one Denver voter showed many empty voting machines due to check-in problems.

"I saw people leaving lines and I had a feeling standing there for over an hour and 45 minutes, that it was going to be like that all day," said voter Lisa Marie Ledesma.

Ledesma said she believes more election workers are needed and she said she hopes the panel will agree.

"If the lay person standing in line can see how the problem can be fixed, hopefully the panel can come to the same conclusion," said Ledesma.

"I'm here to help you identify what happened, Mr. Mayor, so we can move forward and help you out so this won't happen again," said Larimer County clerk and recorder Scott Doyle.

Hickenlooper said some sort of change in the Election Commission structure will be needed. He said he feels a strong sense of urgency to get something done.

Incidentally, the remaining uncounted election ballots were counted Wednesday.

The panel will meet four more times and the members are expected to make some sort of recommendation at its final meeting. The group will also take public input at a city council hearing Dec. 2.