CO Dual Presidential Primary Bills

On May 6, a bill (SB216) to provide for a Colorado Presidential Primary was introduced in the Senate and passed both committees.

SB216, like the House Bill (HB1454), provides for a March Presidential Primary, starting in 2020.

Unlike HB1454, it provides that only Party members could vote in their own Party’s Presidential Primary.

The Colorado Legislature adjourns Wednesday, May 11, 2016.

HB1454 would set up a Presidential Primary and provides that all independent voters would be free to temporarily join a Party, and then they could vote in that Party’s Presidential Primary.

Independent voters, called "Temporary Affiliated Elector", could vote in a Presidential Primary, by asking for a Party's Presidential Primary ballot 45 days before a Primary, they would be deemed to be members of that party, but their Party membership would automatically expire 30 days after the Primary.

The bill passed the House Committee that handles election law bills on April 25, and it passed the House Appropriations Committee on April 28. However, it was amended on April 28 to say that if any initiative on the subject of Presidential Primaries passes in November, that initiative is automatically amended to say that any party is free to choose to nominate for all office by Party meeting instead of by Primary.

UPDATE
On May 9, the Colorado House passed HB 1454, which sets up a Presidential Primary in future years. This year the major Parties in Colorado used Caucuses. The bill provides that independent voters may request one of the major party Primary ballots. The legislature only has two more days, so it is tough to predict if the bill will pass the Senate.

On May 11, the Colorado Legislature adjourned, without passing any bill for a Presidential Primary in future years. In 2016 Colorado had no Presidential Primaries, and the Major Parties used Caucuses to choose delegates to their National Conventions.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker