Second Regular Session
              Sixty-fourth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 04-0331.01 John Hershey         HOUSE BILL 04-1024
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Weissmann,
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 (None),
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning a requirement that the political subdivision
            holding a mail ballot election pay the postage on the 
            return envelope provided to registered voters.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Requires the political subdivision holding a mail ballot election to
       pay the postage on the return envelopes provided to registered voters.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  1-7.5-103 (7), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended to read:
            1-7.5-103.  Definitions.  As used in this article, unless the context
       otherwise requires:
            (7)  "Return envelope" means an envelope with postage paid that
       is printed with spaces for the name and address of, and a self-affirmation
       to be signed by, an eligible elector voting in a mail ballot election, that
       contains a secrecy envelope and ballot for the elector, and that is designed
       to allow election officials, upon examining the signature, name, and
       address on the outside of the envelope, to determine whether the enclosed
       ballot is being submitted by an eligible elector who has not previously
       voted in that particular election.
            SECTION 2.  1-7.5-107 (3), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
            1-7.5-107.  Procedures for conducting mail ballot election -
       first-time voters casting a mail ballot after having registered by mail
       to vote.  (3) (b.7)  The return envelope provided to each registered
       elector shall contain proper return postage paid by the
       political subdivision holding the election.
            SECTION 3.  1-7.5-107 (4) (b), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended to read:
            1-7.5-107.  Procedures for conducting mail ballot election -
       first-time voters casting a mail ballot after having registered by mail
       to vote.  (4) (b)  The eligible elector may return the marked ballot to the
       designated election official by United States mail or by depositing the
       ballot at the office of the official or any place designated by the official. 
       The ballot must be returned in the return envelope.  If an eligible elector
       returns the ballot by mail, the elector must provide postage.  The ballot
       shall be received at the office of the designated election official or a
       designated depository, which shall remain open until 7 p.m. on election
       day.  For an election coordinated by the county clerk and recorder, the
       depository shall be designated by the county clerk and recorder and
       located in a secure place under the supervision of a municipal clerk, an
       election judge, or a member of the clerk and recorder's staff.  For an
       election not coordinated by the county clerk and recorder, the depository
       shall be designated by the designated election official and located in a
       secure place under the supervision of the designated election official, an
       election judge, or another person designated by the designated election
       official.
            SECTION 4.  Effective date.  This act shall take effect at 12:01
       a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after
       final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting
       a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state
       constitution (August 4, 2004, if adjournment sine die is on May 5, 2004);
       except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item,
       section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section,
       or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the
       official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.