SCR 24-002

This Colorado bill proposes changing several key deadlines in the state's election process. It would add an extra week for submitting initiative and referendum petitions, extend the time for publishing measure texts by voters, and adjust the period judges have to declare their intent to run for re-election. If approved by voters in 2024, these changes aim to provide more flexibility and preparation time for various stakeholders involved in elections. The bill has been signed into law but is still awaiting voter approval in the next general election.

Official Summary

To facilitate the addition of an extra week between the secretary of state's deadline to certify ballot order and content pursuant to law and election officials' deadline to transmit ballots pursuant to the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act", the act submits a constitutional amendment to the voters of the state at the 2024 general election that will, if approved: Change the date by which initiative petitions must be filed with the secretary of state from at least 3 months before the general election at which they are to be voted on to at least 3 months and one week before that election; Change the date by which referendum petitions must be filed with the secretary of state from not more than 90 days after the final adjournment of the session of the general assembly that enacted the act on which the referendum is demanded to not more than 83 days after the final adjournment of that session; Change the date by which the nonpartisan research staff of the general assembly shall publish the text and title of every measure from at least 15 days prior to the final date of voter registration for the election to 45 days before the election; and Change the period during which a justice of the supreme court or a judge of any other court must file with the secretary of state a declaration of intent to run for another term from not more than 6 months or less than 3 months prior to the general election before the expiration of the judge's term to not more than 6 months and one week or less than 3 months and one week before that general election.(Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as adopted.)

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