As used in this article 7.5, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Designated election official" means official as defined in section 1-1-104 (8).
(2) "Election" means any election under the "Uniform Election Code of 1992" or the "Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965", article 10 of title 31, C.R.S.
(3) "Election day" means the date either established by law or determined by the governing body of the political subdivision conducting the election, to be the final day on which all ballots are determined to be due, and the date from which all other dates in this article are set.
(3.5) "Independent mail ballot election" has the meaning set forth in section 1-13.5-1102.
(4) "Mail ballot election" means an election for which eligible electors receive ballots by mail and vote by mailing those ballots, depositing the ballots at, as applicable, drop-off locations or voter service and polling centers, or, as applicable, by voting at a voter service and polling center. The term does not include an independent mail ballot election.
(5) "Mail ballot packet" means the packet of information provided by the designated election official to eligible electors in the mail ballot election and to persons preregistered to vote pursuant to section 1-2-101 (2) who will be eighteen years of age on the date of the mail ballot election. The packet includes the ballot, instructions for completing the ballot, a return envelope, and, if applicable, a secrecy envelope or sleeve.
(6) "Political subdivision" means a governing subdivision of the state, including counties, municipalities, school districts, and special districts.
(7) "Return envelope" means an envelope that is printed with spaces for the name and address of, and a self-affirmation to be signed by, an eligible elector voting in a mail ballot election, that contains a ballot for the elector, and that is designed to allow election officials, upon examining the signature, name, and address on the outside of the envelope, to determine whether the enclosed ballot is being submitted by an eligible elector who has not previously voted in that particular election.
(8) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope or sleeve used for a mail ballot election that contains the eligible elector's ballot for the election, and that is designed to conceal and maintain the confidentiality of the elector's vote until the counting of votes for that particular election.
Source: L. 92: Entire article R&RE, p. 752, § 10, effective January 1, 1993. L. 94: (4) amended, p. 1166, § 38, effective July 1. L. 2003: (5) and (7) amended, p. 1277, § 4, effective April 22. L. 2009: (4) amended, (HB 09-1015), ch. 259, p. 1184, § 3, effective August 5. L. 2013: (4) amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 725, § 81, effective May 10; (5) amended, (HB 13-1135), ch. 184, p. 678, § 5, effective August 7. L. 2014: (4), (5), and (8) amended and (3.5) added, (HB 14-1164), ch. 2, p. 5, § 5, effective February 18. L. 2018: IP, (5), and (7) amended, (SB 18-233), ch. 262, p. 1612, § 25, effective May 29.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 1-7.5-103 as it existed prior to 1992.
Cross references: (1) For the "Uniform Election Code of 1992", see articles 1 to 13 of this title.
(2) In 2013, subsection (4) 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.
(3) For the legislative declaration in HB 14-1164, see section 1 of chapter 2, Session Laws of Colorado 2014.
Structure Colorado Code
Article 7.5 - Mail Ballot Elections
Part 1 - Mail Ballot Elections
§ 1-7.5-102. Legislative Declaration
§ 1-7.5-104.5. Ballots and Supplies for Mail Voting
§ 1-7.5-105. Preelection Process - Rules
§ 1-7.5-106. Secretary of State - Duties and Powers
§ 1-7.5-106.5. Registration Record - List of Mail Ballots
§ 1-7.5-107.2. Manner of Early Voting - Securing Ballots Cast During Early Voting
§ 1-7.5-107.3. Verification of Signatures - Rules
§ 1-7.5-107.5. Counting Mail Ballots
§ 1-7.5-108.5. Designation of Inactive Status in Connection With Mailing of Mail Ballots
§ 1-7.5-109. Write-in Candidates
§ 1-7.5-113. Voting at Group Residential Facilities
§ 1-7.5-113.5. Voting at County Jails or Detention Centers
§ 1-7.5-114. Watchers at Voter Service and Polling Centers
§ 1-7.5-115. Emergency Voting - Replacement Ballots - Electronic Transfer - Rules - Definition