Colorado § 1-2-217.7 - Registration on or immediately prior to election day - locations - rules - legislative declaration.

§ 1-2-217.7. Registration on or immediately prior to election day - locations - rules - legislative declaration.

(1) The general assembly hereby declares that the intent of this section is to remove barriers to participation in the political process and make voting and registration more convenient and accessible so all citizens who want to vote have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote by allowing such persons to register to vote up to and on election day.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an elector who is not registered to vote in Colorado or who is registered to vote in Colorado but has moved within the state and needs to make a change of address may register or update his or her address immediately prior to and on election day in accordance with this section and rules adopted pursuant to this section. Upon so registering or updating his or her information, the elector is entitled to vote at any voter service and polling center in the county where the elector registered.

(3) Timing. Voter registration within the twenty-two days prior to an election must be conducted:

(a) (I) For general elections, from the fifteenth day prior to and including election day, at locations designated as voter service and polling centers by county clerk and recorders pursuant to section 1-5-102.9; or

(II) For all other elections conducted or coordinated by a county clerk and recorder or for which a county clerk and recorder is the designated election official, from the eighth day prior to and including election day, at locations designated as voter service and polling centers by county clerk and recorders pursuant to section 1-7.5-107;

(b) By county clerk and recorders, or their designees who have received such specific training or instruction as may be provided or prescribed by the secretary of state, at the offices of the county clerk and recorders at any time during which registration is permitted at such offices; and

(c) Through the eighth day prior to election day, via mail application, voter registration agency, local driver's license examination facility, or the online voter registration system established pursuant to section 1-2-202.5.

(3.5) Notwithstanding the deadlines specified in subsection (3) of this section, voter registration applications must be processed pursuant to section 1-2-508 (3).

(4) Registration at voter service and polling centers.

(a) An elector may register and vote prior to an election or on election day if the elector:

(I) Appears in person at a voter service and polling center in the county in which the elector resides at a time when that voter service and polling center is open;

(II) Completes and signs a voter registration application in the form prescribed by the secretary of state by rule, which application must include the questions contained in section 1-2-204 (2); and

(III) Completes and signs the self-affirmation specified in section 1-2-205.

(IV) Repealed.

(b) Repealed.

(5) Change of residence at voter service and polling centers. In accordance with section 1-2-216 (4), a registered elector who has moved within the state may update his or her residence by appearing at a voter service and polling center in the elector's county of residence when the voter service and polling center is open. The elector may then vote at the voter service and polling center where the elector updated his or her information.

(6) As soon as practicable, a county clerk and recorder shall access the statewide voter registration list maintained pursuant to section 1-2-301 (1) to add or update voter registration information when an elector registers or updates his or her information pursuant to this section. The secretary of state shall prescribe procedures to enable such additions or updates to be accomplished on an expedited basis.

(7) The secretary of state shall promulgate rules in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., as may be necessary to implement this section.

Source: L. 2013: Entire section added, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 693, § 16, effective May 10. L. 2014: (3)(a) and (3)(c) amended and (3.5) added, (SB 14-161), ch. 160, p. 557, § 6, effective May 9. L. 2016: (4)(a)(II) amended and (4)(b) repealed, (SB 16-142), ch. 173, p. 570, § 12, effective May 18. L. 2021: (4)(a)(II) and (4)(a)(III) amended and (4)(a)(IV) repealed, (SB 21-250), ch. 282, p. 1634, § 7, effective June 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.