SB 26-119

Senate Bill 26-119 allows special districts and municipalities in Colorado to use electronic systems for voters to return their marked ballots securely. This means voters can submit their completed ballots through a secure online system that protects voter privacy and ballot integrity. The bill ensures that these electronic returns are then converted into paper ballots by election officials before being counted, maintaining transparency and security throughout the process. Since the bill has been signed, special districts and municipalities in Colorado now have the option to implement this new method for returning voted ballots electronically.

Official Summary

The bill amends the "Colorado Local Government Election Code" (local code) and the "Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965" to add authorization for special districts and municipalities to use electronic ballot return in elections under the local code. Electronic ballot return allows a voter to return a marked ballot to the designated election official or clerk using a qualified electronic transmission system. A qualified electronic transmission system must:Provide for secure identification and authentication;Transmit encrypted information over a secure network;Protect the privacy, anonymity, and integrity of each elector's ballot;Protect against abuse; andProvide any additional security or other measures identified as necessary in the rules of the secretary of state.The designated election official or clerk is responsible for ensuring electronic ballot returns are anonymously transcribed to paper ballots, counted, and secured pursuant to the law for all ballots. Any electronic data generated by an elector using the electronic transmission system is confidential. The secretary of state is required to publish guidance and may also adopt rules as necessary to further specify the qualifications for an electronic transmission system used for electronic ballot return.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Topics

Votes