HB 21-1071 Summary

• Authorizes instant runoff voting (ranked choice voting) in Colorado nonpartisan elections, allowing voters to rank multiple candidates with the candidate receiving the most votes after elimination rounds winning the election.

• Requires the Secretary of State to develop minimum standards and specifications for voting systems used in instant runoff voting elections by December 31, 2022, and certify compliant systems by December 31, 2022.

• Permits municipalities to conduct instant runoff voting elections as part of coordinated county elections with 100 days' notice; municipalities must reimburse counties for reasonable increased costs including licensing, programming, ballot design, voter education, and tabulation.

• Requires the Secretary of State to establish rules by April 1, 2023 for logic and accuracy testing and by January 1, 2025 for risk-limiting audits in instant runoff voting elections.

• Excludes ranking multiple candidates in instant runoff voting elections from the definition of "overvote," and requires candidates to receive voter education about the ranked voting process; effective July 1, 2022, subject to voter approval if a referendum petition is filed.