[8 CCR 1505-1]

13.9 Absentee Ballot Signatures

13.9.1 When the election judge reviews the absentee ballot return envelopes pursuant to 1-8-114.5 C.R.S., before or after the election, and notices either that (1) the return envelope lacks a signature or (2) the return envelope contains a signature but it does not match the eligible elector’s signature on file in the office of the county clerk and recorder, the election judge shall contact the eligible elector in writing no later than three days after election day.

13.9.2 In the case of an unsigned absentee ballot, the letter shall inform the eligible elector that they must come to the office of the county clerk and recorder to sign the absentee ballot envelope no later than ten days after election day.

13.9.3 In the case of an unmatched signature, the letter must inform the eligible elector that they must sign their name in the appropriate place on the form provided pursuant to 1-8-114.5(2)(a) C.R.S. and return it to the county clerk and recorder.

13.9.4 Both letters shall inform the eligible elector that they may respond no later than ten (10) days after the election and furnish their signature to the election official, and that their failure to do so will result in the ballot not being counted.

13.9.5 The letter sent by the election official shall not constitute a violation of 1-13-801 C.R.S.

13.9.6 Both letters shall include the following language:

Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of Article 8 of the Election Code relative to the casting of absentee voters’ ballots or who aids or abets fraud in connection with any vote cast, or to be cast, or attempted to be cast by an absentee voter shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than eighteen months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 1-13-803 C.R.S.