COLORADO
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
COLORADO
FIVE STARS
A brief analysis of policy and process changes made to the vote at home system in 2021 and recommendations moving forward.
WHERE COLORADO STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
WHERE COLORADO STANDS
Our five-star system ranks states from one star (very restricted vote at home options) to five star (full vote at home options). It's a quick and easy way for voters, election officials and policy makers to see how their state's voting system measures up to others around the country.
NOV. 2020 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
✔️ Data integrity & security features
✔️ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
❌ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
JUNE 2021 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
✔️ Data integrity & security features
✔️ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
❌ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
NOV. 2020 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
✔️ Data integrity & security features
✔️ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
❌ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
JUNE 2021 RANKING
✔️ Proactively mailing all voters a ballot
✔️ Data integrity & security features
✔️ ERIC Member
✔️ Automatic Voter Registration
✔️ Risk Limiting Audits
✔️ Same Day Voter Registration
✔️ Online access
✔️ Voter registration
✔️ Robust ballot return options
✔️ Drop Boxes
✔️ Polling place drop off
✔️ BOE drop off
✔️ Voting centers
❌ Prepaid postage
❌ Postmark acceptance
✔️ Ballot Tracking
✔️ Signature verification
✔️ Cure process
✔️ Preprocessing
OPPORTUNITIES
Postage Paid Return Envelopes
Simplifying the return process for a ballot is just as important as simplifying the request process. Prepaying postage on ballot return envelopes ensures that voters do not need to make an extra trip to the post office.
Election Day Postmark Acceptance
Expanding accepting of ballots with Election Day postmarks received shortly after election day is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner, and one that Colorado already follows: Colorado already offers postmark acceptance for military and overseas voters. Accepting Election Day postmarks is estimated in most jurisdictions to decrease ballot rejection rates by half.
OPPORTUNITIES
Postage Paid Return Envelopes
Simplifying the return process for a ballot is just as important as simplifying the request process. Prepaying postage on ballot return envelopes ensures that voters do not need to make an extra trip to the post office.
Election Day Postmark Acceptance
Expanding accepting of ballots with Election Day postmarks received shortly after election day is a best practice to ensure that voters are given all options to vote their ballot in a timely manner, and one that Colorado already follows: Colorado already offers postmark acceptance for military and overseas voters. Accepting Election Day postmarks is estimated in most jurisdictions to decrease ballot rejection rates by half.
RECENT LEGISLATION IN COLORADO
As of June 29, 2021
Not willing to rest on its laurels, in 2021 the state passed a variety of improvements. Colorado’s primary focus in its 2021 changes was accessibility. HB 1011 increased access to ballots in other languages, while SB 188 increased ballot return options for disabled voters. Some of the other changes were more minor, such as SB 160, which clarified existing laws for municipal elections, and HB 1001, which allowed remote voting for party committees during the pandemic.
Colorado has been conducting its elections by mail for years, so the state already had the infrastructure needed in order to conduct the election safely and securely in the “new normal”, so the changes the legislature made to adjust the system to the pandemic were relatively minor. Below are some of the most important election bills that passed in Colorado in 2020 and 2021.
Colorado HB 1313 (2020)
Required clerks to send ballots w/in 2 business days of all ballot apps/voter reg updates received between 8-15 days pre-election; criminalized failure to report that mail ballots have been lost/stolen; required that ballots sent w/in 11 days of an election be sent by first class mail.
Colorado HB 1156 (2020)
Made minor, non substantive changes to language in VBM provisions.
Colorado SB 160 (2021)
Makes administrative clarifications to local government election codes, no substantive changes
Colorado SB 250 (2021)
Makes a variety of technical improvements to existing policies.
Colorado HB 1001 (2021)
Would allow members of party central committees/vacancy committees to cast committee votes remotely (by email/mail/phone/internet) until the end of 2021.
Colorado HB 1011 (2021)
Increases multilingual ballot access. This bill is waiting for concurrence.
Colorado SB 188 (2021)
Would allow voters w/ disabilities that receive ballots electronically to return ballots electronically ("if printing the ballot is not feasible").
RECENT LEGISLATION IN COLORADO
As of June 29, 2021
Not willing to rest on its laurels, in 2021 the state passed a variety of improvements. Colorado’s primary focus in its 2021 changes was accessibility. HB 1011 increased access to ballots in other languages, while SB 188 increased ballot return options for disabled voters. Some of the other changes were more minor, such as SB 160, which clarified existing laws for municipal elections, and HB 1001, which allowed remote voting for party committees during the pandemic.
Colorado has been conducting its elections by mail for years, so the state already had the infrastructure needed in order to conduct the election safely and securely in the “new normal”, so the changes the legislature made to adjust the system to the pandemic were relatively minor. Below are some of the most important election bills that passed in Colorado in 2020 and 2021.
Colorado HB 1313 (2020)
Required clerks to send ballots w/in 2 business days of all ballot apps/voter reg updates received between 8-15 days pre-election; criminalized failure to report that mail ballots have been lost/stolen; required that ballots sent w/in 11 days of an election be sent by first class mail.
Colorado HB 1156 (2020)
Made minor, non substantive changes to language in VBM provisions.
Colorado SB 160 (2021)
Makes administrative clarifications to local government election codes, no substantive changes
Colorado SB 250 (2021)
Makes a variety of technical improvements to existing policies.
Colorado HB 1001 (2021)
Would allow members of party central committees/vacancy committees to cast committee votes remotely (by email/mail/phone/internet) until the end of 2021.
Colorado HB 1011 (2021)
Increases multilingual ballot access. This bill is waiting for concurrence.
Colorado SB 188 (2021)
Would allow voters w/ disabilities that receive ballots electronically to return ballots electronically ("if printing the ballot is not feasible").
COLORADO'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First day of session: January 13, 2021
Last day of session: June 8, 2021
In CO, if a bill is sent after session, the Governor must sign or veto within 30 days after the last day of the session or becomes law.
COLORADO'S LEGISLATIVE DATES
First day of session: January 13, 2021
Last day of session: June 8, 2021
In CO, if a bill is sent after session, the Governor must sign or veto within 30 days after the last day of the session or becomes law.
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, Colorado only made minor changes in order to adapt in 2020, as its existing system proved resilient enough to maintain its ability to allow voters to vote safely, both in person and by mail, in spite of the pandemic. In 2021 the state improved its system further, but there’s always more opportunities to improve even further. These improvements will bring Colorado one step closer to a more safe, efficient, and voter-friendly election process. As always, we stress that policy is important, but it is just as important that it is implemented well and we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and implement these policies and processes and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
OUR CONCLUSION
In summary, Colorado only made minor changes in order to adapt in 2020, as its existing system proved resilient enough to maintain its ability to allow voters to vote safely, both in person and by mail, in spite of the pandemic. In 2021 the state improved its system further, but there’s always more opportunities to improve even further. These improvements will bring Colorado one step closer to a more safe, efficient, and voter-friendly election process. As always, we stress that policy is important, but it is just as important that it is implemented well and we at the National Vote at Home Institute stand ready to help design and implement these policies and processes and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute our expertise.
With the November 2 election around the corner, election officials in Cumberland County, PA are ... boosting voter confidence with tips for a hassle-free #VoteAtHome experience. Check it out here 🗳️ https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/10/cumberland-county-reminds-voters-to-place-correct-postage-on-mail-in-absentee-ballots.html