HB 23-1149

House Bill 23-1149 modifies how elections are conducted in small Colorado counties with between 10,000 and 37,500 registered voters. It allows county clerks to request permission from the Secretary of State to reduce the number of voting centers if they can show that fewer centers would be sufficient based on voter turnout data and available resources. Additionally, it permits these counties to use their staff as election judges instead of always appointing separate individuals for this role when there are less than 37,500 active voters. The bill has been signed into law, meaning the changes it proposes will now take effect according to its provisions.

Official Summary

Current law requires a county clerk and recorder to designate a minimum number of voter service and polling centers depending on the number of active electors. The bill allows a county clerk and recorder of a county with between 10,000 and 37,500 active electors to apply to the secretary of state for permission to reduce the number of required voter service and polling centers if the county clerk and recorder submits data showing how many registered electors voted at one or more of the county's required voter service and polling centers compared to the county's available resources and showing that the number of designated voter service and polling centers was not required for the number of registered electors. For partisan elections, current law requires a county clerk and recorder to appoint 3 election judges for each voter service and polling center. The bill allows a county clerk and recorder of a county with less than 37,500 active electors (small county) to appoint a member of the county clerk and recorder's staff to serve as one of the required election judges for each voter service and polling center. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)