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Colorado > Colorado Electoral Code > Qualifications And Registration Of Electors

1-2-502. Form for Agency Registration

Overview of Statute

Registration forms provided at voter registration agencies must include information in addition to the information outlined in C.R.S. § 1–2–501.

This information includes questions about the desire to register at the current location for individuals not registered where they currently live, an affirmation that failure to register will not affect assistance provided by the agency, an offer for assistance with completing the form if desired, and a statement concerning the procedure for obtaining relief for any perceived impediment to registration. Voter registration agencies providing these forms must maintain non-public records of completed forms for two years, which must be available to the secretary of state acting in accordance with the federal “National Voter Registration Act of 1993”, 52 U.S.C. sec. 20501 et seq.

Statute

(1) In addition to the information required in section 1-2-501, the form used at a voter registration agency shall include:

(a) The question, “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?”;

(b) If the agency provides public assistance, the statement, “Applying to register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of assistance that you will be provided by this agency.”;

(c) Boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would like to register or decline to register to vote, together with the statement, in close proximity to the boxes and in prominent type, “IF YOU DO NOT CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.”;

(d) The statement, “If you would like help in filling out the voter registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in private.”.

(e) The statement, “If you believe that someone has interfered with your right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you may file a complaint with the secretary of state.” The form shall also include the address and telephone number of the secretary of state.

(2) All agencies providing an opportunity to complete the voter registration forms shall keep copies of all records relating to the completion of the forms for two years. The forms shall not be considered public records but shall be available to the secretary of state for purposes of compiling data in compliance with the federal “National Voter Registration Act of 1993”, 52 U.S.C. sec. 20501 et seq.

Source: L. 94: Entire part added, p. 1763, § 21, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2016: (2) amended, (SB 16-142), ch. 173, p. 573, § 22, effective May 18; (2) amended, (SB 16-189), ch. 210, p. 753,3, effective June 6.

Editor’s note: Amendments to subsection (2) by SB 16-189 and SB 16-142 were harmonized.

Definition [Political party]

Any group of registered electors who, by petition or assembly, nominate candidates for the official general election ballot. “Political party” includes affiliated party organizations at the state, county, and election district levels, and all such affiliates are considered to be a single entity for the purposes of this article, except as otherwise provided in section 7. Section 2(13) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.

Definition [State]

A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.

Definition [Secretary]

The Colorado secretary of state. C.R.S. § 1-1.5-102.

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