Bill Summary for Bill Number HB15-1084

Date: 01/26/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1084

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment F). The motion p Postpone House Bill 15-1084 indefinitely. The moti Refer House Bill 15-1084, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS FAIL

04:15 PM -- House Bill 15-1084

The committee returned to order.

Representative Tate, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1084. The bill decreases the minimum number of voter service and polling centers (vote centers) required at general elections in large counties. Specifically, the minimum number of vote centers is reduced compared with current law as follows:

during early voting, one vote center for every 75,000 active voters, rather than one for every 30,000 active voters; and

on election day, one vote center for every 30,000 active voters, rather than one for every 15,000 active voters.

The bill does not change the requirement that all counties must operate at least one vote center. The bill also eliminates the requirement that mail ballot envelopes used in local government elections have a flap covering the signature.

Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed (Attachments E and F). A summary of El Paso County elections was also distributed (Attachment G).

15HouseState0126AttachE.pdf

15HouseState0126AttachF.pdf

15HouseState0126AttachG.pdf

04:21 PM -- Rebecca Strelitz, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Strelitz expressed support for as much convenience as possible in the voting process.

04:23 PM -- Hillary Hall and Matt Crane, representing the Colorado County Clerks Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Crane discussed issues county clerks have with the process required under current law and indicated that the bill would fix a number of those issues. He stressed that the bill would allow a more efficient process for elections and reduce costs. Ms. Hall distributed some elections data (Attachment H). She discussed the data in detail. She responded to questions from the committee. Mr. Crane weighed in as well.

15HouseState0126AttachH.pdf

04:37 PM -- Lizzy Stephan, representing New Era Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Stephan expressed her opinion that more accessible and convenient elections lead to greater voter turnout, which is good for the democratic process.

04:40 PM -- Suzanne Staiert, representing the Colorado Secretary of State, testified in support of the bill with amendment L.001 or L.002. Ms. Staiert discussed elections data (Attachment I). She responded to questions from the committee about the number of individuals who dropped off their ballots rather than mailing them.

15HouseState0126AttachI.pdf

04:47 PM -- Margit Johansson, representing Coloradans for Voting Integrity, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Johansson spoke about the importance of convenience in voting.

04:52 PM -- Carla Castedo, representing Mi Familia Volta, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Castedo reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses with regard to voting convenience.

04:54 PM -- Carol Tone, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill without the adoption of the amendments. Ms. Tone expressed her opinion that the changes in the bill are excessive.

04:57 PM -- Denise Maes, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Maes reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of voting convenience.

04:59 PM -- Ellyn Hilliard, representing the Boulder County Republican Party, testified in support of the bill with the adoption of one of the amendments. Ms. Hilliard expressed opposition to the signature verification in municipal elections provision of the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

05:03 PM -- Elena Nunez, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Nunez reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of voting convenience.

05:06 PM -- Chuck Broerman, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Broerman discussed the trend of increased voter turnout. He referenced Attachment G extensively. He indicated that the bill provides plenty of flexibility to county clerks. He discussed the reasons he believes that the bill will not affect voting convenience. He responded to questions from the committee.


BILL:	HB15-1084
TIME:	05:17:55 PM
MOVED:	Tate
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment F). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Humphrey
		VOTE
	Foote
	Humphrey
	Lontine
	Neville P.
	Primavera
	Tate
	Thurlow
	Tyler
	Willett
	Salazar
	Ryden

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

05:18 PM

Representative Tate wrapped up his presentation and asked for a favorable recommendation.


BILL:	HB15-1084
TIME:	05:26:12 PM
MOVED:	Tate
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 15-1084, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 5-6.
SECONDED:	Humphrey
		VOTE
	Foote	No
	Humphrey	Yes
	Lontine	No
	Neville P.	Yes
	Primavera	No
	Tate	Yes
	Thurlow	Yes
	Tyler	No
	Willett	Yes
	Salazar	No
	Ryden	No

YES: 5 NO: 6 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:	HB15-1084
TIME:	05:26:48 PM
MOVED:	Salazar
MOTION:	Postpone House Bill 15-1084 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 6-5.
SECONDED:	Foote
		VOTE
	Foote	Yes
	Humphrey	No
	Lontine	Yes
	Neville P.	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Tate	No
	Thurlow	No
	Tyler	Yes
	Willett	No
	Salazar	Yes
	Ryden	Yes

Final YES: 6 NO: 5 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:27 PM

The committee adjourned.