Date: 03/12/2014

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB14-1062

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion f
Postpone House Bill 14-1062 indefinitely. The moti
Refer House Bill 14-1062, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
FAIL
PASS
FAIL



10:57 AM -- HB14-1062

The committee took a brief recess.


10:59 AM

The committee returned to order. Representative Singer, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 14-1062. The bill allows local governments to use approval voting in nonpartisan elections. Approval voting is a method of voting in which a voter may cast a vote for as many candidates for an office as he or she chooses and the candidate with the most votes wins. The Secretary of State is required to adopt rules for approval voting by October 1, 2014. County clerks may choose not to coordinate local elections conducted using approval voting.


11:06 AM

Representative Singer responded to questions from the committee about opposition to the bill and other organizations that use this method of elections.

11:08 AM -- Sean Hinga, representing the America Votes Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Hinga distributed an analysis of approval voting (Attachment B). He discussed the analysis in the context of the bill. He expressed his opinion that the bill will cause voter confusion and be subject to equal protection arguments in court. He responded to questions from the committee.

14HseState0312AttachB.pdf14HseState0312AttachB.pdf

11:13 AM -- Amanda Campbell, representing the American Constitution Party, Jeff Orrok, representing the Colorado Libertarian Party, and Harry Hempy, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses discussed the benefits of the bill for third party candidates. Mr. Orrok expressed his opinion that the bill will not increase voter confusion. He spoke about other methods of voting, including range voting. He discussed organizations that use approval voting. He responded to questions from the committee.


11:30 AM

The committee continued to question Mr. Orrok about the mechanics of approval voting. Representative Singer weighed in as well. Mr. Hempy stated that he supports the bill with amendments that would require the Governor and Secretary of State to implement approval voting statewide by 2016. He talked about his problems with the two-party system. He responded to questions from the committee.


11:42 AM

All three witnesses continued to discuss the merits of the bill with the committee.

11:49 AM -- Natalie Menten and Blake Huber, representing themselves, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Menten spoke about the benefits of approval voting. Mr. Huber discussed his problems with the current system of voting.

11:58 AM -- Frank Atwood, representing Approval Voting, Harvie Branscomb, representing himself, and Paul Tiger, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Atwood spoke about the use of approval voting in various situations. He discussed the logistics of approval voting. Mr. Branscomb commented that this a citizen-initiated bill. He stressed that it is optional and permissive, and has no partisan component. He talked about the simplicity and benefits of approval voting. Mr. Tiger spoke about the reasons the bill is needed. He expressed his opinion that voters want more and better choices.

12:12 PM -- Shirley Jin, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jin stated that the bill gives voters the opportunity to express their views more completely.

12:13 PM -- Andrea Bloom, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Bloom stated that the bill gives voters the opportunity to express their views more completely. She listed a number of benefits to the use of approval voting.


12:17 PM

Representative Singer distributed amendments L.001 and L.005 (Attachments C and D).

14HseState0312AttachC.pdf14HseState0312AttachC.pdf 14HseState0312AttachD.pdf14HseState0312AttachD.pdf
BILL:HB14-1062
TIME: 12:18:30 PM
MOVED:Conti
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Conti
Dore
Foote
Humphrey
Labuda
Melton
Moreno
Nordberg
Williams
Salazar
Ryden
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB14-1062
TIME: 12:21:28 PM
MOVED:Conti
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment D). The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Dore
No
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
No
Labuda
Yes
Melton
Yes
Moreno
No
Nordberg
No
Williams
No
Salazar
No
Ryden
Yes
YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


12:26 PM

Representative Singer wrapped up his presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.
BILL:HB14-1062
TIME: 12:27:46 PM
MOVED:Conti
MOTION:Refer House Bill 14-1062, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion failed on a vote of 3-8.
SECONDED:Nordberg
VOTE
Conti
Yes
Dore
Yes
Foote
No
Humphrey
No
Labuda
No
Melton
No
Moreno
No
Nordberg
Yes
Williams
No
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 3 NO: 8 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:HB14-1062
TIME: 12:30:37 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 14-1062 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2.
SECONDED:Labuda
VOTE
Conti
No
Dore
Yes
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Labuda
Yes
Melton
No
Moreno
Yes
Nordberg
Yes
Williams
Yes
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



12:31 PM

The committee adjourned.