HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended March 20, 2012 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading March 19, 2012Second Regular Session Sixty-eighth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 12-0487.01 Bob Lackner x4350 HOUSE BILL 12-1111 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Szabo and Summers, SENATE SPONSORSHIP Mitchell, House Committees Senate Committees State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the definition of identification for election-related purposes. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) One of the following is required to be used as identification for election-related purposes: A valid Colorado driver's license; A valid identification card issued by the department of revenue; A valid United States passport; A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by a governmental entity; A valid pilot's license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized federal agency; A valid United States military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector; A valid medicare or medicaid card issued by the United States health care financing administration that has been issued to an eligible elector who is a resident of a state-licensed facility; or A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institution of higher education established and existing as an agency of the state of Colorado. The following documentation is removed from the list of identification that may be used for election-related purposes: A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector; A certified copy of a birth certificate for the elector issued in the United States; and Certified documentation of naturalization. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that: (a) The foundation of our political system is best served by elections that reflect the highest degree of integrity; (b) It is of utmost importance to the continued health of our republic that citizens function as active voters in the political process; (c) A form of photographic identification is the best and most widely accepted manner by which to verify an elector's actual identity; (d) In the case of Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, 553 U.S. 181 (2008), the United States supreme court upheld an Indiana law that required photographic identification for voting, finding that any burden placed on voters by this requirement is limited and offset by the legitimate state interest in protecting the integrity and reliability of the electoral process by deterring voter fraud and protecting voter confidence in elections; and (e) By law, access to state-issued photographic identification is available to senior citizens and low-income citizens. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-1-104, amend (19.5) (a) as follows: 1-1-104. Definitions. As used in this code, unless the context otherwise requires: (19.5) (a) "Identification" means: (I) A valid Colorado driver's license; (II) A valid identification card issued by the department of revenue in accordance with the requirements of part 3 of article 2 of title 42, C.R.S.; (III) A valid United States passport; (IV) A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States government or of this state, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of this state; (V) A valid pilot's license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the United States; (VI) A valid United States military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector; (VII) A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector; (VIII) A valid medicare or medicaid card issued by the United States health care financing administration that has been issued to an eligible elector who is a resident of a state-licensed facility; or (IX) A certified copy of a birth certificate for the elector issued in the United States; (X) Certified documentation of naturalization; or (XI) A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institution of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102 (5), C.R.S. established and existing by law as an agency of the state of Colorado. SECTION 3. Effective date - applicability. This act takes effect January 1, 2013, and applies to elections conducted on or after said date. SECTION 4. Refer to people under referendum. This act shall be submitted to a vote of the registered electors of the state of Colorado at the next biennial regular general election, for their approval or rejection, under the provisions of the referendum as provided for in section 1 of article V of the state constitution, and in article 40 of title 1, Colorado Revised Statutes. Each elector voting at said election and desirous of voting for or against said act shall cast a vote as provided by law either "Yes" or "No" on the proposition: "Shall certain forms of identification be required for election-related purposes?" The votes cast for the adoption or rejection of said act shall be canvassed and the result determined in the manner provided by law for the canvassing of votes for representatives in Congress.