Date: 04/01/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB09-1160

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved that House Bill 09-1160 be referred to the CPASS



02:41 PM -- House Bill 09-1160

Senator Bacon, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 09-1160, concerning the ability of a qualified elector to submit voter information via the secure web site of the Secretary of State. He walked the committee through the provisions of House Bill 09-1160, and noted that the bill requires the Secretary of State to establish an on-line system by which a person may register to vote, change his or her residence on the registration record, change or withdraw his or her party affiliation, or apply for permanent mail-in ballot status.

The following persons testified in regard to House Bill 09-1160:

02:47 PM -- Brandon Spivey, Denver, representing himself, supported House Bill 09-1160, and on-line registration of electors.

02:49 PM -- Steve Fenberg, representing New Era Colorado, supported House Bill 09-1160 and on-line voter registration. He commented on security concerns relating to on-line registration. He said that the states of Arizona and Washington have implemented on-line voter registration.

02:55 PM -- Alexis Wheeler, Boulder, representing herself, supported House Bill 09-1160, and said that the bill will make voter registration much easier for students and for the disabled.

02:56 PM -- Elena Nunez, representing Colorado Common Cause, supported House Bill 09-1160, and said that the idea of on-line registration has worked in other states. She said that a website operated by the Secretary of State for on-line voter registration would be secure.

02:59 PM -- Faith Gross, representing The Legal Center for People with Disabilities, supported House Bill 09-1160, and said that the bill will increase the independence of persons with disabilities relating to voter registration.

03:01 PM -- Rich Coolidge, representing the Colorado Secretary of State, commented on pending federal legislation to require on-line voter registration nation-wide. He described the documentation that will be necessary for a person to register to vote on-line, as well as the verification process for on-line voting. He commented on the on-line transactions that are currently conducted by the Secretary of State, and expressed confidence in the security of the Secretary of State's computer system.

03:15 PM -- Hillary Hall, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, supported House Bill 09-1160, and said that a person is not truly registered until the information is processed by a clerk. She noted that all "checks and balances" that are currently used by clerks during registration will continue to be used. She said that the on-line process will supplement current registration processes rather than replacing them. She commented on safeguards that are in place to prevent fraud.
BILL:HB09-1160
TIME: 03:20:57 PM
MOVED:Bacon
MOTION:Moved that House Bill 09-1160 be referred to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 4-1-0 roll call vote. (NOTE: Senator Cadman was temporarily replaced as a member of the committee by Senator Brophy.)
SECONDED:
VOTE
Boyd
Yes
Cadman
Yes
Schultheis
No
Bacon
Yes
Williams
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS