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Colorado > Colorado Electoral Code > Elections - Access To Ballot By Candidates

1-4-904. Signatures on the petitions

Overview of Statute

Petitions can only be signed by eligible voters. To make major political party nominations, signatories must be affiliated with the major political party named in the petition. When signing, signatories must affirm party affiliation and other requirements.

Petitions for minor party or unaffiliated candidates can be signed by any eligible voter who has not signed any other petition for the same office. Voters are to sign and print their own names, their addresses, and the date they signed, unless physically unable. To the extent possible, signatures are to be made in black ink. Anyone other than a circulator can assist a voter who is physically unable to sign himself in completing the petition information. Following the name of the signatory, the person providing assistance shall sign and say that he gave the disabled elector assistance.

Statute

(1) Every petition shall be signed only by eligible electors.

(2) (a) For petitions to nominate candidates from a major political party in a partisan election, each signer shall be affiliated with the major political party named in the petition and shall state the following to the circulator: That the signer has been affiliated with the major political party named in the petition for at least twenty-nine days as shown on the registration books of the county clerk and recorder; and that the signer has not signed any other petition for any other candidate for the same office.

(b) Petitions to nominate candidates from a minor political party or unaffiliated candidates in a partisan election may be signed by any eligible elector who has not signed any other petition for any other candidate for the same office.

(3) Unless physically unable, all electors shall sign their own signature and shall print their names, their respective residence addresses, including the street number and name, the city or town, the county, and the date of signature. Each signature on a petition shall be made, to the extent possible, in black ink.

(4) Any person, except a circulator, may assist an elector who is physically unable to sign the petition in completing the information on the petition as required by law. On the petition, immediately following the name of the disabled elector, the person providing assistance shall both sign and shall state that the assistance was given to the disabled elector.

Source: L. 92: Entire part R&RE, p. 688, § 7, effective January 1, 1993. L. 93: (1) amended,   p.34, effective July 1. L. 99: (2) amended, p. 765, § 28, effective May 20. L. 2002: (2) amended, p.1626, § 3, effective June 7. L. 2003: (2) amended, p. 1311, § 8, effective April 22. L. 2016: (2)(a)amended, (SB 16-142), ch. 173, p. 577, § 32, effective May 18.

Editor’s note: This section is similar to former § 1-4-603 (3) as it existed prior to 1992.

Cross references: For designation of candidates by assembly, see § 1-4-601; for designation of party candidates by petition, see § 1-4-603; for nomination of candidates by convention, see §  1-4-701.

 

Definition [Circulator]

A person who presents to other persons for possible signature a petition for recall as described in this article. C.R.S. § 1-12-100.5.

Definition [Circulator]

A person who presents to other persons for possible signature a petition to place a measure on the ballot by initiative or referendum.

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 [Person]

Any natural person, partnership, committee, association, corporation, labor organization, political party, or other organization or group of persons. Section 2(11) of article XXVIII of the state constitution.

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 [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.

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