Colorado § 1-7-106 - Watchers at general and congressional vacancy elections.

§ 1-7-106. Watchers at general and congressional vacancy elections.

(1) Each participating political party or issue committee whose candidate or issue is on the ballot, and each unaffiliated and write-in candidate whose name is on the ballot for a general or congressional vacancy election, is entitled to have watchers as specified in subsection (2) of this section. The chairperson of the county central committee or the state chairperson of each major political party, the county chairperson or other authorized official of each minor political party, the issue committee, or the write-in or unaffiliated candidate shall certify the names of one or more persons selected as watchers on standardized forms provided by the secretary of state and submit the names of the persons selected as watchers to the county clerk and recorder. To the extent possible, the chairperson, authorized official, issue committee, or candidate shall submit the names by the close of business on the Friday immediately preceding the election. The watchers shall surrender the certificates to the election judges at the time they enter the voter service and polling center and are sworn by the judges. This section does not prevent party candidates or county party officers from visiting voter service and polling centers or drop-off locations to observe the progress of voting.

(2) (a) Each participating political party or issue committee whose candidate or issue is on the ballot, and each unaffiliated and write-in candidate whose name is on the ballot for a general or congressional vacancy election, is entitled to have watchers as follows:

(I) In a central count facility, one watcher per central count process, but in any case not less than one watcher for every ten election judges;

(II) During signature verification, one watcher for every four election judges; and

(III) At each voter service and polling center, one watcher per voter service and polling center process.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2)(a) of this section, the number of watchers permitted in a room at one time is subject to space limitations and local safety codes.

Source: L. 92: Entire article R&RE, p. 733, § 9, effective January 1, 1993. L. 95: Entire section amended, p. 862, § 122, effective July 1. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 1633, § 15, effective June 7. L. 2007: Entire section amended, p. 1978, § 23, effective August 3. L. 2013: Entire section amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 718, § 61, effective May 10. L. 2023: Entire section amended, (SB 23-276), ch. 399, p. 2383, § 25, effective June 6.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 1-7-104 as it existed prior to 1992.

Cross references: In 2013, this section was 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.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "Watchers in Colorado Elections", see 43 Colo. Law. 37 (June 2014).