How will this year’s ballot measures affect state taxes and spending if passed? While much of this information is detailed in the Blue Book, the Colorado Legislative Council has also issued fiscal impact statements for each ballot measure. These statements include more detailed analysis of each measure’s fiscal impact, including tables and side-by-side comparisons of […]
Two of the amendments on this year’s ballot are Amendments Y and Z, which deal with how congressional and legislative districts, respectively, are determined. Every ten years, following the U.S. Census, both sets are redrawn to ensure that all districts include equal numbers of people. Under the current system, the state legislature oversees the congressional […]
Election season has arrived! Ballots will be mailed started this Monday, October 15. This year’s ballot will be one of the longest ever. To help you decide on the many issues on the ballot, the State Publications Library has made the “Blue Book” available in a variety of formats to suit your needs. “Blue Books” […]
The Colorado primaries are coming in June, and for the first time, Unaffiliated voters can vote in primary elections. This is due to Proposition 108, which was passed by the voters in 2016. If you are an Unaffiliated voter, the most important thing to remember is that, although you will be mailed both ballots, you […]
The 2018 winter games have come and gone, and once again Colorado’s leaders are looking to the future and hoping to get the Olympics to come to Colorado. What many newcomers may not remember, however, is that Colorado was once awarded the Olympic games — and the people said no. In 1970 the International Olympic […]
Many homeowners wonder about their rights to display political signs if they are part of a homeowner’s association. Many HOAs have rules about political signs in yards or, for condos, in windows. This election season the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) offers the following advice: The Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA), addresses this […]
Election day is quickly approaching and there are a number of important races and issues on this year’s ballot. (For nonpartisan analysis of the amendments and referenda on this year’s ballot, see the Colorado Legislative Council’s 2016 Blue Book.) The issues on a given years’ ballot offer insight on the values and priorities of Colorado […]
Election Day will soon be upon us. This year, every registered voter will receive a mail-in ballot. Most voters should have received their ballot by now, or will in the next few days. Ballots can be dropped off at ballot collection stations at any time. However, polling places will still be open on election day […]
The presidential election may be getting all the attention, but this November is going to be a very significant ballot year in Colorado. Already there are four initiatives approved for the ballot, and five others are pending approval from the Secretary of State, who tabulates the signatures received on petitions. According to the Secretary of […]
In 1990 Colorado voters passed a law to allow limited gaming in three historic towns — Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek. Gambling had been prohibited in Colorado in the 1876 Colorado Constitution. Over the years, bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel (horse) betting and a state lottery were accepted into law, but casino-style gambling was […]
Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 1, is caucus day in Colorado. You can find information on the Colorado caucus, including eligibility, caucus locations, party contact information, and how to participate, by visiting the Colorado Secretary of State’s Caucus FAQs page.
Election day is Tuesday, November 4 — just a week from tomorrow. If you haven’t voted yet, now is the time to have your say in this important election, where Colorado will be deciding its next Governor; U.S. Senator; U.S. Representatives; Colorado Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer; all Colorado House seats; and many […]
One of the questions on this year’s ballot concerns whether or not food should be labeled to state whether it contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For the pros and cons of Proposition 105, see this year’s Ballot Information Booklet (Blue Book). Two fact sheets from Colorado State University offer background on the issue. See Labeling […]
One of the ballot measures that voters will decide on this November is Amendment 68. According to the State Ballot Information Booklet (or “Blue Book”), Amendment 68 proposes to amend the Colorado Constitution to: Permit casino gambling at horse racetracks in Arapahoe, Mesa, and Pueblo counties, limited to one racetrack in each county; and distribute […]
The results from the primaries are in, and Colorado’s 2014 election season is in full swing. To find out more about this election, which includes some major races and ballot issues, check out the new Colorado 2014 Election Guide from the Colorado Legislative Council. Here you can find important dates for voter registration; a list […]
On Friday Legislators introduced a bill (SB14-158) to clean up language in Colorado statute regarding recall elections. Last year, much controversy ensued over who could and could not vote in the recall elections being held for two State Senators. The bill aims to clear up some of this confusion as well as expand the use […]
Today is the day that voters in two Colorado State Senate districts will decide whether or not they will recall their senator. This is the first time the recall has been used for Colorado legislators. You can read the Colorado Secretary of State’s rules for recalls here. Recently there has been some news of disagreements over who […]
Right now, many people are out circulating petitions for November ballot initiatives. If you’re one of them, be aware of the State’s rules for petition circulation. The Secretary of State’s Office has a handy online training guide that all petitioners should read before hitting the streets. The guide includes information on who may circulate petitions, compensation […]
It’s hard to believe that, as we went to the polls yesterday, it was not all that long ago that women did not have the right to vote. It was on this day 119 years ago, November 7, 1893, that Colorado women were enfranchised. (A few other states passed women suffrage laws, but women did not gain […]
On this election day, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at one of the United States’ more interesting and controversial Presidential elections – and one in which Colorado had a direct hand in the outcome. Colorado became a state just three months before election day, 1876. That year, the Presidential race […]
Don’t forget to vote! Election Day is a week away. Today is the last day to request a mail-in ballot online – send this form to the Secretary of State’s Office today if you need a mail in ballot. If you already have your absentee ballot, be sure and mail it in time to be […]