Dueling bills show the partisan divide over how Colorado should run its elections – Colorado Public Radio

Hanks measure was rejected after copious testimony from state and local election officials, who said it would make Colorados system less secure and scuttle an elections process that has won national praise.

The major issues that I see are: timeframes, it's inadequate, (the) technology doesn't exist, ballot anonymity is destroyed, (and an) insufficient amount of vendors to provide paper, saidFremont County Republican Clerk Justin Grantham who testified on behalf of the Colorado County Clerks Association.

One Republican lawmaker joined Democrats to defeat the measure.

A second, and even more sweeping election bill, from Hanks would do away with Colorados mail ballot system and require everyone to vote in person on Election Day. Its awaiting its first committee hearing. Republican state lawmakers across the country have introduced bills to restrict or eliminate the use of mail-in ballots and early voting.

Hanks is not the only Republican lawmaker to introduce short-lived election bills this year.

The House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee also voted down HB-1078 from state Rep. Mark Baisely. It would have required the state to only use election equipment that meets the standards of the federal Election Assistance Commission.

Opponents said it was unnecessary, and nonpartisan analysts found that some elements would be impossible to enact because there isnt equipment available yet that meets the latest federal standard.

The committee aso rejected HB-1084, which would have required county clerks to automatically remove people from the voter rolls if they report being ineligible for jury duty because they arent a citizen or no longer live in the county, and HB-1045, which tried to make it more difficult for citizen-led ballot initiatives to get on the statewide ballot, by requiring backers to collect signatures in each of the states 35 senate districts.

Since Democrats control the state legislature, any bills from the GOP will need bipartisan support to move through the Capitol something a few election bills have managed to do, at least so far.

Republican state Rep. Dave Williams and Democratic state Rep. Chris Kennedy have teamed up on HB-1044 to change the rules for how political parties select vacancy committee members when a political seat opens up. Another bipartisan bill, HB-1156, would change the deadlines for some campaign finance and personal financial disclosures.

While Democrats have pushed for major election reforms over the past decade most notably spearheading the law that moved Colorado to an all-mail ballot state this session is relatively quiet. The partys biggest push so far is for the Vote Without Fear Act. It would prevent anyone from openly carrying a firearm within 100 feet of a voting location, unless their property falls within that buffer.

Supporters say the law is needed to prevent the harassment of voters and poll workers, arguing that the current intimidation law can be difficult to enforce.

We have a long history of people being intimidated with firearms, and quite frankly, the people who intend to intimidate bring them for a reason because of how final the outcome could be, said Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Bacon, one of the main sponsors.

Opponents argue that since Colorado is an open-carry state (with a few exceptions), the bill infringes on peoples Second Amendment rights. The measure is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled legislature.

A second Democratic bill also aims to increase security for people involved with elections. HB-1273 would make it a misdemeanor to threaten or intimidate state and local election workers for just doing their jobs.

Election officials around the country and in Colorado have reported increasing threats, especially connected to false theories that the 2020 election was stolen from president Trump. A number of states are moving to add or strengthen penalties for people who harass election workers.

Colorados bill would also make it illegal to publish election officials personal information publicly a practice known as doxxing and allows those workers and their immediate families to remove their private information from open records requests. Lawmakers extended similar protections to public health workers last year.

Democrats are also pushing a bill this year that would limit individual donations in school board races to $2,500. Donations from small donor committees would also be limited to $25,000 per candidate. HB-1060 cleared the House on a party-line vote and will now be heard in the Senate.

Even though Democrats arent making many changes to Colorados voting laws this year, they did touch off passionate partisan debate early in the session with a resolution to support their partys national push for new voting rights laws.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include information about HB-1273.

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Dueling bills show the partisan divide over how Colorado should run its elections - Colorado Public Radio