Colorado § 1-7-1003 - Conduct of elections using ranked voting methods - instant runoff voting - choice voting or proportional voting - reports.

§ 1-7-1003. Conduct of elections using ranked voting methods - instant runoff voting - choice voting or proportional voting - reports.

(1) A ranked voting ballot shall allow an elector to rank as many choices as there are candidates. However, if the voting system cannot accommodate a number of rankings equal to the number of candidates, the designated election official may limit the number of choices an elector may rank to the maximum number allowed by the voting system; except that the number of choices shall not be less than three.

(2) A ranked voting ballot shall allow an elector to rank up to two write-in candidates. A vote for an unqualified write-in candidate shall not be considered a mark for a candidate.

(3) (a) In an election in which one candidate is to be elected to an office, the ranked voting method shall be known as instant runoff voting. The ballots shall be counted in rounds simulating a series of runoffs until two candidates remain or until one candidate has more votes than the combined vote total of all other candidates. The candidate having the greatest number of votes shall be declared the winner.

(b) In each round of counting ballots in an election using instant runoff voting, each ballot shall be counted as a vote for the remaining candidate ranked highest by the elector, and the candidate with the smallest number of votes shall be eliminated.

(c) If two or more candidates tie for the smallest number of votes, the candidate to eliminate shall be chosen by lot.

(4) In an election in which more than one candidate is to be elected to an office in a multiple-seat district or on a governing body that includes multiple at-large seats, a local government may conduct a ranked voting election using the single transferable vote method, in which a winning threshold is calculated based on the number of seats to be filled and the number of votes cast so that no more than the correct number of candidates can win. The ballots shall be counted in rounds, with surplus votes transferred from winning candidates and candidates with the fewest votes eliminated according to the methodology established by the secretary of state by rule, until the number of candidates remaining equals the number of seats to be filled. A local government may also conduct an election pursuant to this subsection (4) using the principles of instant runoff voting specified in subsection (3) of this section to ensure that each elector has equal voting power and that an elector's lower ranking of a candidate does not count against the candidate to whom the elector gave the highest rank.

(5) (a) In an election conducted using a ranked voting method, an explanation of ranked voting and instructions for electors in the form approved by the secretary of state by rule shall be posted at each polling location and included with each mail ballot.

(b) A local government that conducts an election using a ranked voting method shall conduct a voter education and outreach campaign to familiarize electors with ranked voting in English and in every language in which a ballot is required to be made available pursuant to this code and the federal "Voting Rights Act of 1965", 52 U.S.C. sec. 10101 et seq.

(6) In an election using a ranked voting method, the election judges shall not count votes at the polling location but shall deliver all ballots cast in the election to the designated election official, which shall count the votes in accordance with this section and the rules adopted by the secretary of state pursuant to section 1-7-1004 (1).

(7) (a) For an election conducted using a ranked voting method, the designated election official shall issue the following reports:

(I) A summary report listing the total number of votes for each candidate in each round;

(II) A ballot image report listing for each ballot the order in which the elector ranked the candidates; and

(III) A comprehensive report listing the results in the summary report by precinct or ballot style, as required or permitted by section 1-7.5-208 (3)(a).

(b) The secretary of state may by rule establish additional requirements for the reports issued pursuant to this subsection (7).

(c) Preliminary versions of the summary report and ballot image report shall be made available to the public as soon as possible after the commencement of the official canvass of the vote pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.

Source: L. 2008: Entire part added, p. 1250, § 2, effective August 5. L. 2009: (5)(b) amended, (SB 09-292), ch. 369, p. 1938, § 2, effective August 5. L. 2013: (5)(a), (6), and (7)(a)(II) amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 724, § 79, effective May 10. L. 2016: (5)(b) amended, (SB 16-142), ch. 173, p. 582, § 51, effective May 18. L. 2021: (7)(a)(II) and (7)(a)(III) amended, (HB 21-1071), ch. 367, p. 2422, § 16, effective July 1, 2022.

Cross references: In 2013, subsections (5)(a), (6), and (7)(a)(II) were amended 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.