HB 14-1062 Summary

• Authorizes cities, towns, counties, school districts, and special districts to conduct nonpartisan elections using approval voting methods on and after November 1, 2014, allowing voters to cast votes for as many candidates per office as they choose.

• Excludes approval voting from the definition of "overvote" and requires ballot language to state "vote for not more than [number of candidates]" in approval voting elections.

• Directs the Secretary of State to adopt rules by October 1, 2014, governing the conduct, tabulation, auditing, and reporting of approval voting elections, and to provide guidance to local governments upon request.

• Allows county clerks and recorders to decline coordinating elections for local governments using approval voting, and modifies automatic recount thresholds to one-half percent of ballots cast for approval voting contests.

• Permits municipalities and special districts to adapt ballot requirements and counting procedures as necessary for compatibility with approval voting methods.