The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee advanced four bills and killed one, with the sharpest fights over HB 26-1113's election cleanup provisions (county clerk vs. commissioner authority over voting equipment), HB 26-1104's voter address verification via Experian (defeated 6-5 then postponed indefinitely), and HB 26-1080's bipartisan signature verification requirement (passed 10-1).
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Matt Crane (Colorado County Clerks Association) argued current statute giving county commissioners authority to choose voting systems 'is backwards' because clerks are the elected subject-matter experts, citing instances where commissioners tried 'to have their clerks arrested because they won't get rid of voting systems.' Elbert County Commissioner Dallas Schroeder countered that commissioners have 'the final fiduciary role for the counties' and that the provision 'almost appears that this is a protect the Dominion voting systems from anybody that wants to question it.' Representatives Luck and Bradley pressed for clarity on final authority; Representative Winter asked how giving clerks authority would be beneficial given he never voted on voting machines as a council member.
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“Right now the statute says that county commissioners in consultation get to choose the voting systems for the county. We find that to be backwards. The voters choose clerk and recorders to be the chief election officials for their counties. It should be the clerks who choose the voting systems. Of course, county commissioners have a role, have a budgetary role in that process. But to leave that role with county commissioners who are not subject matter experts is a mistake. And it's led to issues over the last few years.”
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Sign in to subscribeI was telling the room. Okay. The House State Civic, Veteran, Military and Veterans affairs committee will come to order. Ms. King, please call the roll. Representatives. Bottoms. Here. Bradley. Here. Carter. Espinosa. Fray. Here. Frohlich. No. Yes. No to them. Yes. Locke. Here. Win. Happy to be here. Rex. Here. Wilford. Mr. Chair, I am here. We have everyone present. Thank you. We're going to go over the bills that we're going to hear today. Going to start with House Bill 1113, followed by House Bill 1088-1104-1080-1137 and 1084. This is going to be a day of elections bills, an evening of elections bills. So welcome to our committee. We're going to start now with House Bill 26, 1113, Modifications to Elections. Sponsors, who would like to begin? Representative Sirota, Please proceed. Representative. Madam Chair. Representative Wilford. It is very strange to be on this side of the diocese in my own committee. So I, I appreciate the grace there. Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, colleagues. I am delighted to be here with Representative Sirota to introduce House Bill 1113. This is a cleanup bill for elections and voting. Colorado is a national role model for administering secure, safe, accessible…
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