CO SB287

Restores Colorado's presidential primary election, which was repealed in 2003, to be held on a Tuesday designated by the governor no earlier than the date national party rules allow and no later than the third Tuesday in March in presidential election years.

Governor must designate the primary election date by September 1 of the year before the election; each major political party with qualified candidates receives a separate ballot, and voters may only vote for candidates affiliated with their declared party.

Requires candidates to be eligible for federal matching funds, seek major party nomination as bona fide candidates, and submit a notarized statement of intent by January 2, along with either a $10,000 filing fee or a petition signed by 10,000 affiliated eligible electors.

Secretary of State must certify candidate names 60 days before the election; write-in votes only count if the candidate files a notarized statement of intent and $1,000 fee by 67 days before the election; candidates are listed alphabetically on ballots.

State reimburses counties for all direct presidential primary election expenses based on the number of active registered electors affiliated with participating major political parties; political parties must allocate delegates according to primary results and bind state delegates to national convention unless prohibited by party rules.