Date: 03/09/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1193

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment G). The motion p
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment H). The motion f
Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment I). The motion f
Postpone House Bill 15-1193 indefinitely. The moti
Refer House Bill 15-1193, as amended, to the Commi		PASS
FAIL
FAIL
PASS
FAIL



07:01 PM -- HB15-1193

Representative Windholz, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1193. Under current law, election watchers monitor various aspects of the election process from prior to the polls opening through the count and announcement of the election results. Election watchers must be eligible electors and may be appointed by political parties, candidates, and ballot measure proponents and opponents.

The bill expands the time frame monitored by election watchers to include all election activities, from voter registration and the mailing of ballots to the canvassing, certification, and recount of the results. The bill also removes the requirement that election watchers have the same party affiliation as the party or candidate appointing them or unaffiliated status. The bill makes various other changes concerning election watchers as described below.

Concerning access to election records, the bill permits election watchers to:

In addition to the expanded authority for election watchers described above, the bill prohibits election watchers from maliciously delaying election activities. It also specifies that an election watcher's access to a record can be withheld if the record is needed for use by the election official. The bill requires the Secretary of State's Office to resolve any controversies or unresolved disputes between election watchers and election officials.

07:07 PM -- Amber McReynolds, representing the Colorado County Clerks' Association and the City and County of Denver, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. McReynolds discussed a working group that is being convened by the Secretary of State to look at election watcher issues in Colorado. She indicated that the bill is unnecessary and expressed concern about the expansion of permitted election watcher activities. She described the process for becoming an election judge and an election watcher. She discussed the importance of voter confidentiality. She responded to questions from the committee. She discussed the increased costs to local governments that would occur as a result of the bill.

07:26 PM -- Anita Stapleton, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Stapleton spoke about the importance of election integrity and transparency. She related anecdotes about her experience as an election watcher. She expressed concerns about security lapses related to elections in Pueblo County. She responded to questions from the committee.

07:34 PM -- John Buckley, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Buckley described his experience as an election watcher and a member of the canvass board in Arapahoe County. He expressed his opinion that county clerks and election judges do a good job following election law. He stated that the bill will interrupt the election process.

07:38 PM -- Cathy Jarrett, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jarrett related anecdotes of her experience as an election watcher and judge. She described her concerns with the limitations placed on election watchers by county clerks.

07:42 PM -- Karen Goldman, representing the Colorado Municipal Clerks' Association, the Colorado Municipal League, and the City of Aurora, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Goldman stated her support for the Secretary of State's working group. She expressed concern that watchers could impede elections under the bill due to a lack of training. She responded to questions from the committee.

07:55 PM -- Margit Johansson, representing Coloradans for Voting Integrity, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Johansson spoke about the importance of transparency in the elections process. She related anecdotes about her experience as an election watcher. She responded to questions from the committee.

08:01 PM -- Chuck Broerman, El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Broerman spoke about his office's reputation for open and honest elections. He discussed the limitations on election watchers and complaints he has heard about those limitations. He pointed out specific language in the bill that causes him concern. He supported the idea of a working group formed by the Secretary of State. He responded to questions from the committee.

08:09 PM -- Mary Eberle, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Eberle reiterated testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of open and transparent elections. She related anecdotes about her experience as an election watcher. She responded to questions from the committee.

08:20 PM -- Elena Nunez, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Nunez reiterated testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of open and transparent elections. She expressed support for the previously discussed working group. She talked about language in the bill that she believes to be ambiguous. She responded to questions from the committee.

08:28 PM -- Suzanne Staiert, representing the Secretary of State's Office, testified about the bill. Ms. Staiert discussed the previously mentioned working group. She responded to questions from the committee.

08:34 PM -- Marilyn Marks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marks reiterated testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of open and transparent elections. She responded to questions from the committee.

08:40 PM -- Harvie Branscomb, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Branscomb reiterated testimony of prior witnesses with regard to the importance of open and transparent elections. He described his experience as an election watcher. He responded to questions from the committee.

08:47 PM -- Martha Tierney, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Tierney reiterated the testimony of prior witnesses about the lack of official qualifications for election watchers.


08:55 PM

Representative Windholz distributed three letters of support (Attachments D, E, and F) and amendments L.001, L.002, and L.003 (Attachments G, H, and I).

15HouseState0309AttachD.pdf15HouseState0309AttachD.pdf 15HouseState0309AttachE.pdf15HouseState0309AttachE.pdf 15HouseState0309AttachF.pdf15HouseState0309AttachF.pdf

15HouseState0309AttachG.pdf15HouseState0309AttachG.pdf 15HouseState0309AttachH.pdf15HouseState0309AttachH.pdf 15HouseState0309AttachI.pdf15HouseState0309AttachI.pdf
BILL:HB15-1193
TIME: 08:56:27 PM
MOVED:Humphrey
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment G). The motion passed on a vote of 8-3.
SECONDED:Neville P.
VOTE
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
Yes
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
Yes
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

BILL:HB15-1193
TIME: 09:00:15 PM
MOVED:Neville P.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment H). The motion failed on a vote of 4-7.
SECONDED:Tate
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
No
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

BILL:HB15-1193
TIME: 09:01:25 PM
MOVED:Neville P.
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment I). 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


09:02 PM

Representative Windholz wrapped up her presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.
BILL:HB15-1193
TIME: 09:07:56 PM
MOVED:Humphrey
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1193, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 4-7.
SECONDED:Neville P.
VOTE
Foote
No
Humphrey
Yes
Lontine
No
Neville P.
Yes
Primavera
No
Tate
Yes
Thurlow
No
Tyler
No
Willett
Yes
Salazar
No
Ryden
No
YES: 4 NO: 7 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL

BILL:HB15-1193
TIME: 09:08:01 PM
MOVED:Salazar
MOTION:Postpone House Bill 15-1193 indefinitely. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED:Foote
VOTE
Foote
Yes
Humphrey
No
Lontine
Yes
Neville P.
No
Primavera
Yes
Tate
No
Thurlow
Yes
Tyler
Yes
Willett
No
Salazar
Yes
Ryden
Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS



09:08 PM

The committee adjourned.