HB 20-1156

Abstract

The "Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965" (code) specifies procedures that municipal clerks are required to use when mailing ballots to voters who are covered by the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act" (UOCAVA). The code specifies that standard voting materials for the purposes of UOCAVA include a declaration prescribed to accompany a federal absentee write-in ballot; however, the municipal clerks are unable to use that declaration. The act repeals this requirement. The code also specifies that, to be valid, an active military or overseas voter must complete a signed affirmation required by federal law. The act specifies the language required to be included in the affirmation. The code currently requires all paper ballots, including mail ballots, to include a ballot stub and a duplicate stub on the top portion of the ballot. This requirement is unnecessary for mail ballots, as municipalities have other ballot verification methods. The act specifies that mail ballots are not required to include a stub and a duplicate stub. The act also amends several provisions in the code regarding mail ballot elections to be consistent with other general provisions in the code regarding municipal elections. Specifically: The provision in the code that requires nomination petitions in mail ballot elections to be corrected no later than 66 days before the election is amended to be consistent with the general provision that specifies such petitions must be amended prior to 63 days before the election; The provision in the code that requires a withdrawal affidavit for a mail ballot election to be filed by the close of business on the 63rd day prior to the election is amended to be consistent with the general provision that specifies such withdrawals must occur prior to 63 days before the election; and The wording of the self-affirmation that is required to appear on the envelope for a mail ballot is amended to be consistent with the wording of the self-affirmation that is required to appear on the envelope for an absentee ballot.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)