Blue Ribbon Election Reform Bill Introduced in the Senate and the Next Blue Ribbon Election Panel Meeting Set

Denver, April 1, 2005 - The Blue Ribbon Election Reform bill was introduced in the Senate earlier this week. A copy of Senate Bill 05-206 can be viewed at the General Assembly's website. Senate Bill 05-206 contains the recommendations agreed upon by the Secretary of State's Blue Ribbon Election Panel. Last week Secretary Davidson announced the details included in the proposed legislation.

Secretary of State Donetta Davidson plans to meet with the Blue Ribbon Election Panel on Monday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. The meeting will be located in Room 356 of the Capitol Building located at 200 East Colfax Avenue. This is an open meeting and the press is invited to attend. Food and beverages are only available for Blue Ribbon Election Panel members.

The topics discussed at the upcoming meeting include Testing of Voting Equipment and clarification of the statute pertaining to the prohibition against convicted felons voting. The proposed change clarifies that the prohibition does not apply to misdemeanants. The Panel will also review suggested clean-up measures to existing legislation, proposed to the Panel by Colorado's county clerks. The clean-up measures are aimed at providing clearer direction to pollworkers and more understandable procedures for election officials.

All meeting minutes, notices, and agendas are posted on the Secretary of State's website. Please visit the "Elections Center" located at www.sos.state.co.us. Please click on the "Blue Ribbon Election Panel" link.

Secretary of State Donetta Davidson created the Blue Ribbon Election Panel to examine current legislation, election rules, and procedures. The Panel has met almost weekly over a three- month period to discuss ways that current laws and rules could be changed to improve elections in Colorado.