Committee Clears Trio of Bills to Safeguard and Improve Colorado’s Elections

The bills will enhance Colorado’s gold standard election system by protecting against internal and external threats, and clarifying processes for voters

DENVER, CO – The State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today voted to advance a trio of bills to enhance Colorado’s voting systems and safeguard elections from internal and external threats.

Sponsored by Senate President Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder), SB22-153, the Colorado Election Security Act, will keep Colorado’s elections secure and defend our election system from internal threats and those who would seek to compromise the security of our gold standard election system. 

“Colorado sets a national example when it comes to holding free, fair, and secure elections, and we want to keep it that way,” Fenberg said. “But unfortunately, there are folks both inside and outside the election system seeking to tamper with and undermine trust in our elections. The Colorado Election Security Act increases penalties for anyone who tampers with Colorado’s gold standard elections and interferes with our democracy, and will help defend our elections from wrongdoers while giving Coloradans peace of mind at the polling place.”

HB22-1086, the Vote Without Fear Act, prohibits a person from openly carrying a firearm within 100 feet of any drop box, voter service and polling center (VSPC), or central count facility while an election or any related ongoing election administration activity is in progress. The bill, sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora) and Sonya Jaquez-Lewis (D-Boulder County) will ensure Coloradans can continue to cast a ballot without fear of intimidation.

“The sacred right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it’s imperative that Coloradans can participate in our democracy without fear,” said Fields. “We must ensure that voters who wish to make their voice heard at the ballot box feel safe to do so in Colorado, and this commonsense bill will implement critical protections to keep our polling places safe and defend voting rights throughout our state.” 

SB22-152, Residence of Voter Whose Home is Destroyed, will allow registered Colorado voters displaced by the Marshall Fire and temporarily living at another location to continue using their home address on their voter registration if their home was destroyed or is uninhabitable. Sponsored by President Fenberg and Senator Jaquez Lewis, the bill will codify a standard practice that county election clerks have historically followed for displaced voters. 

“Part of what makes the Colorado system of voting a national gold standard is its flexibility and ease of receiving and returning a mail ballot,” Jaquez Lewis said. “I’m proud to bring forward legislation that will ensure those impacted by the Marshall Fire have the flexibility they need to continue voting easily where they always have. This bill represents one of the many ways the legislature is providing support to impacted Boulder County residents and is an important piece of short term recovery. I’m grateful to have partnered with Clerk Fitzpatrick to quickly bring this bill to fruition.”

SB22-153 now heads to the Appropriations Committee for further consideration. HB22-1086 and SB22-152 now move to consideration before the full Senate.