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Colorado > Colorado Electoral Code > Notice Of And Preparation For Elections

1-5-108. Election judges may change polling locations and drop-off locations

Overview of Statute

If holding an election becomes impossible or impracticable due to an emergency at the designated polling location, election judges, after assembling at or as near as practicable to the original location, will move the polling place to the nearest convenient location suitable for holding the election. Election judges must notify designated election officials of the change as soon as possible. Also, after moving to a new polling location, election judges must display a proclamation of the change at the original polling location to notify voters of the new location, including an explanation of why the move occurred. If an emergency makes the use of a drop-off location impossible or impracticable, the designated election official will relocate the drop-off location to the nearest convenient place.

Statute

(1) (a) If it becomes impossible or impracticable to hold an election because of an emergency at the designated polling location, the election judges, after assembling at or as near as practicable to the original designated polling location, may move to the nearest convenient place for holding the election and at the newly designated place forthwith proceed with the election. The election judges shall notify the designated election official of the change as soon as possible.

(b) Upon moving to a new polling location, the election judges shall display a proclamation of the change at the original polling location to notify all electors of the new location for holding the election. The proclamation must contain a statement explaining the specific nature of the emergency that required the change in the polling location and must provide the street address of the new location.

(2) If an emergency renders a drop-off location impossible or impracticable for use in an election, the designated election official shall relocate the drop-off location to the nearest convenient place.

Source: L. 98: Entire section added, p. 583, § 16, effective April 30.L. 2013: Entire section amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 708, § 35, effective May 10.

Cross references: In 2013, this section was amended by the “Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act”. For the short title and the legislative declaration, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 185, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.

Definition [Designated election official]

The secretary of state, a county clerk and recorder, or other election official as provided by article XXI of the state constitution. C.R.S. § 1-12-100.5.

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 [Title]

A brief statement that fairly and accurately represents the true intent and meaning of the proposed text of the initiative.

Definition [Section]

A bound compilation of initiative forms approved by the secretary of state, which shall include pages that contain the warning required by section 1-40-110 (1), the ballot title, the abstract required by section 1-40-110 (3), and a copy of the proposed measure; succeeding pages that contain the warning, the ballot title, and ruled lines numbered consecutively for registered electors’ signatures; and a final page that contains the affidavit required by section 1-40-111 (2). Each section shall be consecutively prenumbered by the petitioner prior to circulation.

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.

Regulations & Guidance