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.