Colorado § 1-2-302.5 - Change of address search - rules.

§ 1-2-302.5. Change of address search - rules.

(1) The secretary of state shall conduct a monthly national change of address search, using the national change of address database administered by the United States postal service, for all electors whose names appear in the statewide voter registration list.

(2) (a) The secretary of state shall transmit monthly to the appropriate county clerk and recorders the data obtained from the search conducted under subsection (1) of this section.

(b) If any search of the national change of address database administered by the United States postal service conducted under this section indicates an elector has permanently moved, the county clerk and recorder shall act as follows:

(I) (A) If the search indicates that the elector moved within the state, the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the elector's new address is located shall mark the elector's registration record as "Active" and update the elector's registration record with the elector's new address and send, to the elector's old address, notice of the change by forwardable mail and a postage pre-paid pre-addressed return form by which the registrant may verify or correct the address information.

(B) If the elector returns the return form sent pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (I) and indicates that he or she has not moved, the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the elector's old address is located shall immediately correct the elector's previously updated address in the statewide voter registration database.

(C) If the elector returns the return form confirming the new address, or if the elector does not return the return form, the county clerk and recorder shall leave the elector's new address and status as updated in the registration record pursuant to sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (I).

(II) Repealed.

(III) If the search indicates that the elector moved to a different state, the county clerk and recorder shall mark the elector's registration record "Inactive" and send a confirmation card and:

(A) If the elector returns the confirmation card and confirms the new address, the county clerk and recorder shall cancel the elector's registration record in the statewide voter registration database;

(B) If the elector does not return the confirmation card, the elector's registration record must remain "Inactive". If the inactive elector subsequently fails to vote in two consecutive general elections, the county clerk and recorder shall cancel the elector's registration record in accordance with section 1-2-605 (7).

(C) If the elector returns the confirmation card and indicates the elector has not moved, the county clerk and recorder shall immediately correct the elector's registration record in the statewide voter registration database and mark the voter "Active".

(c) A county clerk and recorder shall make corrections to address updates made pursuant to a national change of address search upon receiving additional information from the elector.

(3) Repealed.

(4) If any search conducted pursuant to this section indicates that an elector has added or changed a post office box, the county clerk and recorder shall update the elector's registration record with the new post office box as the elector's mailing address and send him or her a confirmation card in accordance with section 1-2-605. The card must notify the elector of the change in mailing address and apprise the elector of his or her place of residence for voting purposes.

(5) In addition to the search conducted by the secretary of state pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, a county clerk and recorder may conduct a national change of address search using the national change of address database administered by the United States postal service as frequently as he or she sees fit.

Source: L. 2013: Entire section added, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 696, § 20, effective May 10. L. 2014: (1), IP(2)(b), (2)(b)(I)(A), and (2)(b)(I)(C) amended; (2)(c), (4), and (5) added; and (3) repealed, (SB 14-161), ch. 160, p. 558, § 7, effective May 9. L. 2016: (2)(b)(I) and IP(2)(b)(III) amended and (2)(b)(II) repealed, (HB 16-1093), ch. 126, p. 359, § 3, effective April 21.

Cross references: In 2013, this section was added by the "Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act". For the short title and the legislative declaration, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 185, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.