1-8.3-107. Methods of registering to vote
Statute
(1) To apply to register to vote, in addition to any other approved method, a covered voter may use a federal postcard application, or the application’s electronic equivalent.
(2) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot. If the declaration is received after the election, it shall be treated as an application to register to vote for subsequent elections.
(3) The secretary of state shall ensure that the electronic transmission system described in section 1-8.3-104 (3) is capable of accepting both a federal postcard application and any other approved electronic registration application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved method to register to vote.
Source: L. 2011: Entire article added, (HB 11-1219), ch. 176, p. 668, § 1, effective May 13.L. 2013: (2) amended,(HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 744, § 105, effective May 10. L. 2018: (2) amended, (SB 18-233), ch. 262, p. 1614, § 31, effective May 29.
Cross references: In 2013, subsection (2) 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.
OFFICIAL COMMENT
Both this section and section 1-8.3-108 are designed to encourage the use of the federal postcard application while yet allowing military and overseas voters to use a state’s pre-existing voter forms, and to permit states to develop alternative forms if they wish. However, the sections are not intended to require states or local election jurisdictions to revise their existing forms, or to prepare new forms for voters covered under this act. Instead, to the extent that a state’s existing forms do not collect sufficient information to properly classify overseas and military voters, section 1-8.3-108 (5) requires voters who use the state forms to affirmatively indicate their status as a covered voter. States that choose to revise their forms for whatever reason should ensure that the revised forms facilitate voting under this act.
- Cross-References:
- Mail-In & Absentee Voting
- Methods of Registration
- Military & Overseas Voting
- Voter Registration
According to the rules, “Electronic Transmission” means:
(a) For the purpose of sending an unvoted ballot by fax, email, or online delivery to:
(1) A military or overseas elector under Article 8.3 of Title 1, C.R.S.
(2) An elector requesting a replacement for an emergency under section 1-7.5-115, C.R.S.
(3) An affected elector requesting a ballot because of a disaster emergency.
(b)For the purpose of returning a voted ballot to the county clerk fax or email.
1. Definition for Overseas voter
A United States citizen who is outside the United States. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
2. Definition for Federal postcard application
The application prescribed under section 101(b)(2) of the federal “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1973ff(b)(2).1. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
3. Definition for Federal write-in absentee ballot
The ballot described in section 103 of the federal “Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act”, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1973ff-2.2. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
4. 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.
5. Definition for Title
A brief statement that fairly and accurately represents the true intent and meaning of the proposed text of the initiative.
6. Definition for Ballot
(a) A federal write-in absentee ballot;
(b) A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this article; or
(c) A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this article.
(2) “Covered voter” means:
(a) A uniformed-service voter defined in paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of this section who is a resident of this state but who is absent from this state by reason of active duty and who otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;
(b) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this state and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;
(c) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this state had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements; or
(d) An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection (2), and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements if the last place where a parent, legal guardian, spouse, or civil union partner of the voter was, or under this article would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this state.
C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Definition for Secretary
The Colorado secretary of state. C.R.S. § 1-1.5-102.