1-7-101. Hours of voting on election day
Overview of Statute
Polling stations must be open between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM on election day. The polling station must remain open until every individual who arrived prior to 7:00 PM receives the opportunity to vote. Should an election require the presence of election judges, the election will not commence until at least two judges from different political affiliations are present. A judge will also make proclamations that the polls have opened and, towards the end of the day, that polls will be closing in thirty minutes.
Statute
(1) (a) All polling locations must be open continuously from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day. If a full set of election judges is not present at the hour of 7 a.m. and it is necessary for judges to be appointed to conduct the election as provided in section 1-6-113, the election may commence when two judges who are not of the same political affiliation for partisan elections are present at any hour before the time for closing the polling locations. The polling locations shall remain open after 7 p.m. until every eligible elector who was at the polling location at or before 7 p.m. has been allowed to vote. Except as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section, any person arriving after 7 p.m. is not entitled to vote.
(b)
(I) Any person may petition the district court for the county in which a polling location is located for an order requiring a polling location to remain open after 7 p.m. on election day. The district court shall grant the petition upon a finding that access to or voting at the polling location has been substantially impaired due to inclement weather, equipment failure, technological problems, voter suppression activities, a shortage of supplies, or other exigent circumstance.
(II) If the condition impairing voting at or access to polling locations affects polling locations in more than one county, any person may petition the district court of the city and county of Denver for an order requiring the secretary of state to order all polling locations in all affected counties to remain open after 7 p.m. on election day. The district court shall grant the petition upon a finding that access to or voting at one or more polling locations in the affected counties has been substantially impaired due to inclement weather, equipment failure, technological problems, voter suppression activities, a shortage of supplies, or other exigent circumstance.
(III) If an order is issued in accordance with this subsection (1)(b), every eligible elector who was at a polling location affected by the order at or before the closing time specified in the order shall be allowed to vote. The court shall not order polling locations to remain open for more than an additional six hours.
(2) Upon the opening of the polls, a proclamation shall be made by one of the judges that the polls are open, and, thirty minutes before the closing of the polls, a proclamation shall be made that the polls will close in thirty minutes.
Source: L. 92: Entire article R&RE, p. 731, § 9, effective January 1, 1993.L. 98: (1) amended, p. 583, § 17, effective April 30.L. 2013: (1) amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 718, § 59, effective May 10.L. 2019: (1) amended, (HB 19-1278), ch. 326, p. 3027, § 35, effective August 2.
Editor’s note: Articles 1 to 13 were numbered as articles 1, 3, 4, 9 to 19, and 21 of chapter 49, C.R.S. 1963. The substantive provisions of these articles were repealed and reenacted in 1980, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to these articles prior to 1980, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note and the table itemizing the replacement volumes and supplements to the original volume of C.R.S. 1973 beginning on page vii in the front of this volume. Former C.R.S. numbers prior to 1980 are shown in editor’s notes following those sections that were relocated. For a detailed comparison of these articles for 1980, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.
Cross references: For school elections, see articles 30, 31, and 42 of title 22; for elections for removal of county seats, see article 8 of title 30; for municipal elections, see article 10 of title 31; for special district elections, see part 8 of article 1 of title 32; for exemption of certain statutory proceedings from the rules of civil procedure, see C.R.C.P. 81; for recall from office, see article XXI of the state constitution; for recall of state and county officers, see part 1 of article 12 of this title; for recall of municipal officers, see part 5 of article 4 of title 31; for recall of directors of special districts, see § § 32-1-906, 32-1-907.
Editor’s note: Articles 1 to 13 were repealed and reenacted in 1980, and this article was subsequently repealed and reenacted in 1992, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to this article prior to 1992, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note and the table itemizing the replacement volumes and supplements to the original volume of C.R.S. 1973 beginning on page vii in the front of this volume and the editor’s note following the title heading. Former C.R.S. section numbers are shown in editor’s notes following those sections that were relocated in 1992. For a detailed comparison of this article for 1980 and 1992, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.
Cross references: For election offenses relating to conduct of elections, see part 7 of article 13 of this title.
Editor’s note: This section is similar to former § 1-7-101 as it existed prior to 1992.
Cross references: (1) For the date of general and primary elections, see § 1-1-104 (17) and (32).(2) In 2013, subsection (1) 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.
1. Definition for Election day
The date either established by law or determined by the governing body of the political subdivision conducting the election, to be the final day on which all ballots are determined to be due, and the date from which all other dates in this article are set.C.R.S. § 1-7.5-103.
2. Definition for 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.
3. Definition for Title
A brief statement that fairly and accurately represents the true intent and meaning of the proposed text of the initiative.
4. Definition for 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.
5. Definition for 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.
6. Definition for 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.
7. Definition for Secretary
The Colorado secretary of state. C.R.S. § 1-1.5-102.