CO SB069

Requires designated election officials to verify circulator qualifications and allows random sampling, per secretary of state rules, to verify candidate petition signatures against the statewide voter registration system.

Mandates election officials verify that circulators meet qualifications under section 1-4-905(1) and that circulator signature dates do not predate any signer signatures; petitions executed by ineligible circulators or predated by circulators are void.

Directs secretary of state to collaborate with county clerks and other election officials on a pilot study of best practices and modern technology for electronic candidate petition processing, including automated signature verification and portable electronic tablet signing capabilities.

Requires secretary of state to report study findings and recommendations during the SMART Government Act presentation in the interim before the 2020 legislative session, with the report posted on the state website and distributed to all county clerks.

Takes effect August 9, 2017, subject to referendum petition provisions, and applies to elections conducted on or after the effective date.