Date: 05/01/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1337

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved that House Bill 09-1337 be referred to the CPASS


01:55 PM

Senator Williams, Chair, called the meeting to order.

01:55 PM -- House Bill 09-1337

Senator Williams, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1337, concerning changes to certain ballot processing deadlines contained in the state election code. She described the provisions of the bill.

The following persons testified in regard to House Bill 09-1337:

01:58 PM -- Al Kolwicz, representing the Colorado Voter Group, opposed House Bill 09-1337. He commented on the early counting of votes and the impact of early counting on campaigns. He said that early counts may affect election results.

02:04 PM --
Mike Scarpello, City and County of Denver, Director of Elections, supported House Bill 09-1337. He commented on the need for clerks to have 15 days to compile election results. He said that votes are not tabulated until election day and that this eliminates the possibility of the early release of results.

02:08 PM --
Harvie Branscomb, representing the Colorado Voter Group, commented on the importance of having relatively brief counting periods. He said that beginning the count on the day of the election is the safest procedure.

02:12 PM -- Hillary Hall, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, commented on county processes for counting votes. She said that tally results cannot be released until election day, and that this is due to the technology employed by the counties in tabulating election results. She noted that the 15-day time frame was recommended by the Election Reform Commission, and added that there has never been a case prosecuted in Colorado regarding the early release of election results.

02:18 PM -- Pam Anderson, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, said that Colorado law prohibits the tabulation of election results prior to the closing of the polls. She noted that the Secretary of State has also promulgated security rules relating to tabulation of election results. She commented on the process by which the Election Reform Commission developed its recommendations.

02:25 PM -- Bill Hobbs, Deputy Secretary of State, commented on the activities of the Election Reform Commission. He commented further on measures that are taken to ensure the secrecy of ballots. He said that a definition of the term "counting" in Colorado law is unnecessary. He said that election workers take an oath regarding the integrity of the ballot, and are aware that they commit a crime if they release election results early.

02:50 PM --
Mary Eberle, Coloradans for Voter Integrity, opposed the bill.
BILL:HB09-1337
TIME: 02:55:49 PM
MOVED:Williams
MOTION:Moved that House Bill 09-1337 be referred to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 3-0-2 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
Excused
Schultheis
No
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 3 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS