1-4-1303. Qualifications to nominate by constitution or bylaws
Overview of Statute
In addition to the qualifications outlined in C.R.S. § 1-4-1302, a minor political party may also qualify when a candidate receives at least five percent of the vote in either of the two preceding statewide elections or when at least one thousand registered electors affiliate with the party prior to July 1 in a general election year.
A minor political party will continue to meet the qualifications for a minor political party so long as a candidate from the party receives at least one percent of the total votes cast or at least one thousand registered electors continue to affiliate with the party prior to July 1 in at least one of the two immediately preceding elections.
Statute
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, a minor political party qualifies as a minor political party if the party satisfies the requirements of section 1-4-1302 or any one of the following conditions:
(a) Any of its candidates for any office voted on statewide in either of the last two preceding general elections received at least five percent of the total votes cast for such office.
(b) One thousand or more registered electors are affiliated with the minor political party prior to April 1 of the election year for which the minor political party seeks to nominate candidates.
(2) A minor political party shall continue to be qualified as a minor political party if:
(a) A candidate of the party for statewide office has received at least one percent of the total votes cast for any statewide office in either of the last two preceding general elections; or
(b) One thousand or more registered electors are affiliated with the minor political party prior to April 1 in either of the last two preceding general elections for which the party seeks to nominate candidates.
(3) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2003, p. 1312, § 11, effective April 22, 2003.)
- Cross-References:
- Ballot Access
- Candidate Methods of Nomination
- Minor Parties
1. Definition for Political party
Any group of registered electors who, by petition or assembly, nominate candidates for the official general election ballot. “Political party” includes affiliated party organizations at the state, county, and election district levels, and all such affiliates are considered to be a single entity for the purposes of this article, except as otherwise provided in section 7. Section 2(13) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.
2. Definition for State
A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.
3. Definition for Section
A bound compilation of initiative forms approved by the secretary of state, which shall include pages that contain the warning required by section 1-40-110 (1), the ballot title, the abstract required by section 1-40-110 (3), and a copy of the proposed measure; succeeding pages that contain the warning, the ballot title, and ruled lines numbered consecutively for registered electors’ signatures; and a final page that contains the affidavit required by section 1-40-111 (2). Each section shall be consecutively prenumbered by the petitioner prior to circulation.
4. Definition for Election
Any election under the “Uniform Election Code of 1992” or the “Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965”, article 10 of title 31, C.R.S. C.R.S. § 1-7.5-103.
5. Definition for Candidate
Any person who seeks nomination or election to any state or local public office that is to be voted on in this state at any primary election, general election, school district election, special district election, or municipal election. “Candidate” also includes a judge or justice of any court of record who seeks to be retained in office pursuant to the provisions of section 25 of article VI. A person is a candidate for election if the person has publicly announced an intention to seek election to public office or retention of a judicial office and thereafter has received a contribution or made an expenditure in support of the candidacy. A person remains a candidate for purposes of this article so long as the candidate maintains a registered candidate committee. A person who maintains a candidate committee after an election cycle, but who has not publicly announced an intention to seek election to public office in the next or any subsequent election cycle, is a candidate for purposes of this article. Section 2(2) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.