First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 97­0410.01 JY HOUSE BILL 97­1124

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVE Gordon;

also SENATOR Wells.

EDUCATION

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING THE PRESENCE OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AT POLLING PLACES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

Bill Summary

"Polling Places For Education"

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments which may be subsequently adopted.)

Specifies that nothing in the election code is to be construed to prohibit election officials from allowing students under 18 years of age to be present at polling places for educational purposes.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  Part 1 of article 5 of title 1, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1980 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:

1­5­108.  Presence at polling place for educational purposes ­ legislative declaration. (1)  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT EARLY EDUCATION IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WILL HELP SCHOOL CHILDREN UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS AND DECLARES THAT ALLOWING SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BE PRESENT AT POLLING PLACES TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE ELECTION PROCESS, INCLUDING CONDUCTING MOCK ELECTIONS, HAS BEEN A POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THE STATE OF COLORADO AND WILL HOPEFULLY INCREASE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS. THEREFORE, THE ENACTMENT OF THIS PROVISION PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF ALLOWING SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BE PRESENT AT POLLING PLACES FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATING THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF THIS STATE ON THE ELECTION PROCESS.

(2)  NOTHING IN THIS PART 1 SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT DESIGNATED ELECTION OFFICIALS FROM ALLOWING STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN TO BE PRESENT AT A POLLING PLACE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, EDUCATING STUDENTS ON BALLOT CONTENTS AND CONDUCTING MOCK ELECTIONS.

SECTION 2.  Effective date.  This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety­day 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; 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.