HB 23-1180

House Bill 23-1180 changes how county commissioners are elected in Colorado counties with a population of at least 70,000. Instead of letting each county choose its own system for electing up to five commissioners, the bill mandates that these larger counties must have exactly five commissioners. At least three of those commissioners will be chosen by voters who live within their specific district, while the remaining two or one can either represent a single district or be elected at large (by all voters in the county). This new system aims to ensure more local representation for residents. The bill has been signed into law and will affect counties that haven't adopted home rule, meaning they won’t have the option to create their own unique governance structures outside of state laws.

Official Summary

Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more, the board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 commissioners from 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district by voters of the whole county. Alternatively, the board may consist of 5 commissioners, the county may be divided into 3 or 5 districts, and the commissioners may be elected pursuant to one of 10 alternative methods. The bill eliminates this discretionary system and instead requires that all counties with a population of 70,000 or more have 5 commissioners, with at least 3 commissioners elected only by voters resident in the district from which each commissioner runs for election. The bill allows the counties to choose between 3 election alternatives: 3 commissioners resident in 3 districts elected by voters resident in those districts and 2 commissioners elected at large; 4 commissioners resident in 4 districts elected by voters resident in those district and one commissioner elected at large; or 5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts. The bill makes conforming amendments to statutory provisions concerning commissioner districts and election petition statutes. The bill does not affect counties that have adopted home rule. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)