First Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 97­0069.01 DLC HOUSE BILL 97­1141

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVE Agler;

also SENATOR Schroeder.

STATE, VETERANS &

MILITARY AFFAIRS

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING CHANGES TO DATES THAT RELATE TO PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

Bill Summary

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

Changes the following dates:

• The date of the primary election from the 2nd Tuesday in August to the 1st Tuesday in June;

• The date for holding precinct caucuses from the 1st Tuesday in April to the 1st Tuesday in February;

• The date when party petitions may begin being circulated before a primary election from the 1st Monday in April to the 1st Monday in February.
  
  

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

SECTION 1.  1­1­104 (32), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1980 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

1­1­104.  Definitions. As used in this code, unless the context otherwise requires:

(32)  "Primary election" means the presidential primary election and the election held on the second Tuesday of August FIRST TUESDAY IN JUNE in each even­numbered year.

SECTION 2.  1­3­102 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1980 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

1­3­102.  Precinct caucuses. (1)  Delegates to county assemblies shall be elected at precinct caucuses which may be held in a public place in or proximate to each precinct at a time and place to be fixed by the county central committee of each political party on the first Tuesday in April FEBRUARY in each even­numbered year, which day shall be known as "precinct caucus day".

SECTION 3.  1­4­101 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1980 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

1­4­101.  Primary election nominations made. (1)  A primary election shall be held at the regular polling places in each precinct on the second Tuesday of August FIRST TUESDAY IN JUNE in even­numbered years to nominate candidates of political parties to be voted for at the succeeding general election.

SECTION 4.  1­4­801 (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, 1980 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended to read:

1­4­801.  Designation of party candidates by petition. (5)  Party petitions shall not be circulated nor any signatures be obtained prior to the first Monday in April FEBRUARY BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION. Petitions shall be filed no later than the sixty­sixth day before the primary election.

SECTION 5.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.