Blue Ribbon Election Bill to be Introduced in the Senate

Denver, March 24, 2005 - Next week the Blue Ribbon election reform bill is slated to be introduced in the Senate. Secretary of State Donetta Davidson and the Blue Ribbon Election Panel have worked diligently to create legislation that aims to strengthen and clarify election laws concerning voter registration drives, provisional ballots, voter identification, election timeframes, emergency voter registration, paper-trail verification, and verification and testing of voting equipment.

The Blue Ribbon Election bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Tupa (D-Boulder) and Rep. Al White (R-Winter Park) requires that voter registration drives must register with the Secretary of State's office and all voter registration forms must be returned to the appropriate county clerk and recorder within five days of being signed by the applicant.

Over the past three months, the Blue Ribbon Election Panel, chaired by Secretary Davidson, has considered testimony from election officials, election judges, interest groups, and voters across the state about ways the election process in Colorado should be improved.

"During the 2004 General Election there was a lot of concern regarding voter registration fraud," Donetta Davidson said. "I want to assure the voters that overall there was very little voter registration fraud in Colorado, but there were cases that did exist and this legislation will hold voter registration drives and individuals accountable for mishandling voter registration materials," Davidson added.

The legislation will also tighten timeframes on the election calendar to allow the Secretary of State to certify the primary and general election ballots sooner. Providing additional time after the ballot certification will allow the county clerk and recorders to be able to get ballots printed earlier and send out absentee ballots to voters sooner.

In addition, the bipartisan bill also clarifies the provisional ballot laws and conforms Colorado's statutes to the federal Help America Vote Act. The Bill adds acceptable forms of identification for students and Indian natives, requires voters go to their correct precincts to vote, and requires that voting equipment purchased in 2005 and thereafter must have paper voter verification. It requires that existing equipment be retrofitted for voter verification by 2010, and states that retrofit equipment purchased by counties must be certified prior to purchase.

"This election reform legislation suggests improvements to existing laws and procedures that would increase the fairness, accuracy, and transparency of elections in Colorado," Davidson said.