HB16-1126: Election Watchers

• County central committee chairpersons must select and appoint watchers for each precinct in primary elections, with names submitted no later than 25 days before the election; state party officials appoint if county chairperson cannot

• Issue committees and ballot measure proponents/opponents must designate a registered agent as the authorized representative to appoint one or more watchers, with names submitted no later than 25 days before elections

• Watchers may observe signature verification and communicate potential discrepancies to the supervisor judge; if the judge disagrees, watchers must inform their appointing authority who may contact election officials or file legal action

• Watchers with access to confidential election information must pass a criminal background check; disclosure of election information to such vetted watchers is permitted, and county clerks may access criminal history records through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation

• Bill includes required oath or affirmation for watchers covering citizenship, eligibility, party membership (when applicable), confidentiality obligations, and prohibitions on determining how voters voted; effective date August 10, 2016, subject to potential referendum veto