Election: Nov. 5, 2024 (General)
Outcome: Failed
Categories:
ElectionsTo facilitate the addition of an extra week between the secretary of state's deadline to certify ballot order and content pursuant to law and election officials' deadline to transmit ballots pursuant to the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act", the act submits a constitutional amendment to the voters of the state at the 2024 general election that will, if approved:
Change the date by which initiative petitions must be filed with the secretary of state from at least 3 months before the general election at which they are to be voted on to at least 3 months and one week before that election;
Change the date by which referendum petitions must be filed with the secretary of state from not more than 90 days after the final adjournment of the session of the general assembly that enacted the act on which the referendum is demanded to not more than 83 days after the final adjournment of that session;
Change the date by which the nonpartisan research staff of the general assembly shall publish the text and title of every measure from at least 15 days prior to the final date of voter registration for the election to 45 days before the election; and
Change the period during which a justice of the supreme court or a judge of any other court must file with the secretary of state a declaration of intent to run for another term from not more than 6 months or less than 3 months prior to the general election before the expiration of the judge's term to not more than 6 months and one week or less than 3 months and one week before that general election.
SECTION 1. At the election held on November 5, 2024, the secretary of state shall submit to the registered electors of the state the ballot title set forth in section 2 for the following amendments to the state constitution:
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, section 1 of article V, amend (2), (3), and (7.3) as follows:
Section 1. General assembly- initiative and referendum. (2) The first power hereby reserved by the people is the initiative, and signatures by registered electors in an amount equal to at least five percent of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of secretary of state at the previous general election shall be required to propose any measure by petition, and every such petition shall include the full text of the measure so proposed. Initiative petitions for state legislation and amendments to the constitution, in such form as may be prescribed pursuant to law, shall be addressed to and filed with the secretary of state at least three months AND ONE WEEK before the general election at which they are to be voted upon.
(3) The second power hereby reserved is the referendum, and it may be ordered, except as to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, and appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of state and state institutions, against any act or item, section, or part of any act of the general assembly, either by a petition signed by registered electors in an amount equal to at least five percent of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for the office of the secretary of state at the previous general election or by the general assembly. Referendum petitions, in such form as may be prescribed pursuant to law, shall be addressed to and filed with the secretary of state not more than ninety days EIGHTY-THREE DAYS after the final adjournment of the session of the general assembly that passed the bill on which the referendum is demanded. The filing of a referendum petition against any item, section, or part of any act shall not delay the remainder of the act from becoming operative.
(7 .3) Before any election at which the voters of the entire state will vote on any initiated or referred constitutional amendment or legislation, the nonpartisan research staff of the general assembly shall cause to be published the text and title of every such measure. Such publication shall be made at least one time in at least one legal publication of general circulation in each county of the state and shall be made at least fifteen days prior to the final date of voter registration for FORTY-FIVE DAYS BEFORE the election. The form and manner of publication shall be as prescribed by law and shall ensure a reasonable opportunity for the voters statewide to become informed about the text and title of each measure.
In the constitution of the state of Colorado, amend section 25 of article VI as follows:
Section 25. Election of justices and judges. A justice of the supreme court or a judge of any other court of record, who shall desire to retain his THE JUSTICE'S OR JUDGE'S judicial office for another term after the expiration of his THE JUSTICE'S OR JUDGE'S then term of office shall file with the secretary of state, not more than six months AND ONE WEEK nor less than three months AND ONE WEEK prior to the general election next prior to the expiration of his THE JUSTICE'S OR JUDGE'S then term of office, a declaration of his THE JUSTICE'S OR JUDGE'S intent to run for another term. Failure to file such a declaration within the time specified shall create CREATES a vacancy in that office at the end of his THE JUSTICE'S OR JUDGE'S then term of office. Upon the filing of such a declaration, a question shall be placed on the appropriate ballot at such general election, as follows:
"Shall Justice (Judge) .... of the Supreme (or other) Court be retained in office? YES/ .... /NO/ ... ./." If a majority of those voting on the question vote "Yes", the justice or judge is thereupon elected to a succeeding full term. If a majority of those voting on the question vote "No", this will cause a vacancy to exist in that office at the end of his then present term of office.
In the case of a justice of the supreme court or any intermediate appellate court, the electors of the state at large; in the case of a judge of a district court, the electors of that judicial district; and in the case of a judge of the county court or other court of record, the electors of that county; shall vote on the question of retention in office of the justice or judge.
SECTION 2. Each elector voting at the election may cast a vote either "Yes/For" or "No/Against" on the following ballot title: "Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning the modification of certain deadlines in connection with specified elections?"
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided in section 1-40-123, Colorado Revised Statutes, if at least fifty-five percent of the electors voting on the ballot title vote "Yes/For", then the amendment will become part of the state constitution.