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Colorado > Colorado Electoral Code > Certificates of Election And Election Contests

1-11-102. Tie votes in nonpartisan elections

Overview of Statute

In nonpartisan elections, the board of canvassers will resolve ties in votes and give reasonable notice to the candidates that approximates a date for a final decision.

Statute

If any two or more candidates tie for the highest number of votes for the same office and if there are not enough offices remaining for all the candidates, the board of canvassers shall determine by lot the person who shall be elected. Reasonable notice shall be given to the candidates who are involved of the time when the election will be determined.

Source: L. 92: Entire article R&RE, p. 784, § 14, effective January 1, 1993.

 

ANNOTATION

Determination by lot does not prevent election contest. The determination by lot by the canvassing board of which candidate shall have the certificate of election where two candidates having the highest number of votes have an equal number is not such settlement of the matter as will prevent the defeated party from contesting the election on the ground that legal votes for him were not counted or that illegal votes were counted for his opponent. Nicholls v. Barrick, 27 Colo. 432, 62 P. 202 (1900) (decided under former law).

Definition [Person]

Any natural person, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, political party, or other organization or group of persons. Section 2(11) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.

Definition [Election]

Any election under the “Uniform Election Code of 1992” or the “Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965”, article 10 of title 31, C.R.S. C.R.S. § 1-7.5-103.

Definition [Candidate]

Any person who seeks nomination or election to any state or local public office that is to be voted on in this state at any primary election, general election, school district election, special district election, or municipal election. “Candidate” also includes a judge or justice of any court of record who seeks to be retained in office pursuant to the provisions of section 25 of article VI. A person is a candidate for election if the person has publicly announced an intention to seek election to public office or retention of a judicial office and thereafter has received a contribution or made an expenditure in support of the candidacy. A person remains a candidate for purposes of this article so long as the candidate maintains a registered candidate committee. A person who maintains a candidate committee after an election cycle, but who has not publicly announced an intention to seek election to public office in the next or any subsequent election cycle, is a candidate for purposes of this article. Section 2(2) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.

Cases

Colorado Cases

Case Name: Nicholls v. Barrick

Citation: 62 P. 202 (Colo. 1900)

Year: 1900

Case Summary: Holding that the intention of the voter for a fusion candidate, despite any confusion caused by the ballot, determined the allocation of the vote.

Out-of-State Cases

Federal Cases