DENVER – Republicans delayed but couldn’t derail a bill to revamp local elections, which passed the state Senate on Tuesday afternoon.
They alleged House Bill 1164 will open up local elections to fraud because it allows voters to register on Election Day.
The bill covers elections for everything from city council to school board to water and sewer districts.
Last year, Democrats rewrote the rules on statewide elections to send mail ballots to everyone and allow Election Day registration. Previously, voters had to register at least 29 days before the election.
Debate this week closely mirrored last year’s arguments.
“It’s codifying fraud, election fraud, in special district and municipal elections,” said Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch.
Democrats defended Colorado’s election system. A national panel headed by the top election lawyers for President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney spoke well of Colorado’s new system, said Sen. Jessie Ulibarri, D-Commerce City.
“We have one of the most secure – but most fair – forms of election administration here in this state,” Ulibarri said.
Local governments and the Special District Association of Colorado wrote the bill, seeking clarity on how they can run their elections this May.
With election deadlines approaching, Democrats had tried to get the bill out of the Senate quickly, with no amendments, and send it to Gov. John Hickenlooper for final approval.
But Republicans put forward amendments that could have politically damaged Democrats who voted against them, including an amendment to expand access to the polls for disabled military veterans.
Republicans also objected to HB 1164 because it allows local districts to decide what kind of election to run – in person, all mail or a combination.
“We are giving them the ability to pick and choose. So nobody from district to district to district will know what the rules of the game are,” Harvey said.
But Ulibarri said local and special districts can’t have a “one-size-fits-all” bill because what works for a large urban school district might not work for a small sanitation district with just a handful of members.
Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, was a sponsor of the bill until last week. She had pulled her name off, saying she had hoped the House would change it to increase safeguards against voting fraud, but it didn’t.
She voted against the bill but did not speak against it during the several hours of debate.
The Senate passed the bill 19-13 Tuesday. But because of a procedural move, Republicans have locked up the bill for up to three more days. After that, it can go back to the House to accept Senate amendments and lastly on to Hickenlooper’s desk.
jhanel@durangoherald.com
