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1-4-1305. Disqualification of minor political party

Overview of Statute

If a minor political party ceases to qualify and fails to subsequently requalify under § 1-4-1303, the secretary of state must notify the party’s chairperson and relevant clerk and recorders of the disqualification.

The notice of disqualification must be sent out by July 1 of the election year, and no certification of designation will be accepted from the political party. Once a party is disqualified, any electors affiliated with the party will be designated as unaffiliated.

Statute

(1) In the event a minor political party ceases to qualify as such a party pursuant to section 1-4-1303 (2) and fails to subsequently qualify as such a party pursuant to section 1-4-1303, the secretary of state shall notify the chairperson of such party and the clerk and recorder of each county of such disqualification.

(2) Such notice of disqualification shall be provided by the secretary of state to the chairperson of the minor political party and to each clerk and recorder no later than July 1 of an election year in which a minor political party may qualify candidates for the ballot. No certificate of designation of candidates pursuant to section 1-4-1304 (3) shall be accepted by the secretary of state from the minor political party for the election for which such party has ceased to qualify.

(3) Upon notification of disqualification of a minor political party, each registered elector that is affiliated with such minor political party shall be designated on the registration books of the county clerk and recorder as “unaffiliated”.

 

Source: L. 98: Entire part added, p. 255, § 1, effective April 13. L. 2016: (3) amended, (SB 16-142), ch. 173, p. 578, § 36, effective May 18.

Definition [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.

Definition [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.

Definition [Ballot]

(a) A federal write-in absentee ballot;

(b) A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter in accordance with this article; or

(c) A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this article.

(2) “Covered voter” means:

(a) A uniformed-service voter defined in paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of this section who is a resident of this state but who is absent from this state by reason of active duty and who otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;

(b) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last eligible to vote in this state and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements;

(c) An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have been last eligible to vote in this state had the voter then been of voting age and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements; or

(d) An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not described in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection (2), and, except for a state residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this state’s voter eligibility requirements if the last place where a parent, legal guardian, spouse, or civil union partner of the voter was, or under this article would have been, eligible to vote before leaving the United States is within this state.

C.R.S. § 1-8.3-102.

Definition [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.

Definition [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.

Definition [Secretary]

The Colorado secretary of state. C.R.S. § 1-1.5-102.

Definition [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.

Cases

Colorado Cases

Case Name: Anderson v. Kilmer

Citation: 302 P.2d 185 (1956)

Year: 1956

Case URL: https://www.ravellaw.com/opinions/07dadc684de4792f787f71ef5b143044

Case Summary: Holding that where candidate was first registered as a Republican in the books of the county clerk on April 29, 1956, and primary election was held September 11, 1956, such individual was ineligible for designation as a candidate.

Out-of-State Cases

Federal Cases

Regulations & Guidance