Signed by Governor John Hickenlooper

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends state elections laws.

Highlights:

• Extends the voter registration deadline for a given election in the following ways (Secs. 8 & 16):
• Up to and through Election Day, if an individual registers at a voter service and polling center as designated by the county clerk and recorder;
• Up to and through 8 days before Election Day, if an individual registers through the online registration system; or
• Up to and through 22 days before Election Day, if an individual registers through:
• An application submitted through the mail, provided that the application is postmarked on or before the twenty-second day prior to Election Day;
• A voter registration agency;
• A local driver’s license examination facility;
• A voter registration drive; or
• A high school.

• Reduces the amount of time an individual must have resided in the state in order to vote from 30 days to 22 days prior to the election in which the individual intends to vote (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Secretary of State to conduct a monthly change of address search beginning July 1, 2013 for all individuals who appear on the statewide voter registration list and to update the voter registration list accordingly (Sec. 20).

• Authorizes a registered voter to request to receive election communications by e-mail from the county clerk and recorder, excluding mail-in ballots and confirmation cards (Sec. 4).

• Requires county clerks and recorders to mail ballots to all registered voters no later than 22 days before the election, regardless of whether or not the registered voters requested the mail-in ballot (Sec. 86).

• Authorizes a registered voter to vote in an election by the following methods (Sec. 86): 
• Mailing or manually delivering his or her mail-in ballot to the following locations: 
• The office of a county clerk and recorder or designated election official; 
• Any voter service and polling center; or
• Or drop-off location designated by a county clerk and recorder or designated election official.
• Delivering his or her mail-in ballot for the purposes of mailing or personal delivery to the following personnel: 
• Any authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder;
• Any designated election official; or
• Any other individual of the registered voter’s choosing, provided that the individual has not already mailed ten ballots for other registered voters.
• Casting his or her vote in person at the voter service and polling center.

• Requires the county clerks and recorders of every county to designate a minimum number of voter service and polling centers, as follows (Sec. 31):
• For counties with at least 25,000 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, 1 voter service and polling center for every 30,000 registered voters, and at least 1 voter service and polling service in total; and
• On Election Day, 1 voter service and polling center for every 30,000 registered voters, and at least 3 voter service and polling centers in total.
• For counties with between 10,000 and 24,999 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, at least 1 voter service and polling center; and
• On Election Day, at least 3 voter service and polling centers.
• For counties with fewer than 10,000 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, at least 1 voter service and polling center; and
• On Election Day, at least 1 voter service and polling center. 

• Repeals the voter registration record category of “Inactive – Failed to Vote” (Sec. 18).

• Establishes the Colorado Voter Access and Modernized Elections Commission, which shall evaluate the implementation of the provisions of the bill and evaluate the current state of voting and voter registration (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends state elections laws.

Highlights:

• Extends the voter registration deadline for a given election in the following ways (Secs. 8 & 16):
• Up to and through Election Day, if an individual registers at a voter service and polling center as designated by the county clerk and recorder;
• Up to and through 8 days before Election Day, if an individual registers through the online registration system; or
• Up to and through 22 days before Election Day, if an individual registers through:
• An application submitted through the mail, provided that the application is postmarked on or before the twenty-second day prior to Election Day;
• A voter registration agency;
• A local driver’s license examination facility;
• A voter registration drive; or
• A high school.

• Reduces the amount of time an individual must have resided in the state in order to vote from 30 days to 22 days prior to the election in which the individual intends to vote (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Secretary of State to conduct a monthly change of address search beginning July 1, 2013 for all individuals who appear on the statewide voter registration list and to update the voter registration list accordingly (Sec. 20).

• Authorizes a registered voter to request to receive election communications by e-mail from the county clerk and recorder, excluding mail-in ballots and confirmation cards (Sec. 4).

• Requires county clerks and recorders to mail ballots to all registered voters no later than 22 days before the election, regardless of whether or not the registered voters requested the mail-in ballot (Sec. 86).

• Authorizes a registered voter to vote in an election by the following methods (Sec. 86): 
• Mailing or manually delivering his or her mail-in ballot to the following locations: 
• The office of a county clerk and recorder or designated election official; 
• Any voter service and polling center; or
• Or drop-off location designated by a county clerk and recorder or designated election official.
• Delivering his or her mail-in ballot for the purposes of mailing or personal delivery to the following personnel: 
• Any authorized agent of the county clerk and recorder;
• Any designated election official; or
• Any other individual of the registered voter’s choosing, provided that the individual has not already mailed ten ballots for other registered voters.
• Casting his or her vote in person at the voter service and polling center.

• Requires the county clerks and recorders of every county to designate a minimum number of voter service and polling centers, as follows (Sec. 31):
• For counties with at least 25,000 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, 1 voter service and polling center for every 30,000 registered voters, and at least 1 voter service and polling service in total; and
• On Election Day, 1 voter service and polling center for every 30,000 registered voters, and at least 3 voter service and polling centers in total.
• For counties with between 10,000 and 24,999 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, at least 1 voter service and polling center; and
• On Election Day, at least 3 voter service and polling centers.
• For counties with fewer than 10,000 registered voters:
• During the early voting period, at least 1 voter service and polling center; and
• On Election Day, at least 1 voter service and polling center. 

• Repeals the voter registration record category of “Inactive – Failed to Vote” (Sec. 18).

• Establishes the Colorado Voter Access and Modernized Elections Commission, which shall evaluate the implementation of the provisions of the bill and evaluate the current state of voting and voter registration (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text