h_sa_2017a_2017-04-19t13:39:10z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/19/2017

Location: LSB A

01:39 PM -- HB17-1281



Representative Singer, bill sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1281. The bill authorizes counties, municipalities, school districts, and special districts (local governments) to use approval voting in non-partisan elections beginning November 1, 2017. The Department of State is required to adopt approval voting rules prior to October 1, 2017, advise local governments on the implementation of this voting method, and submit a report to the General Assembly on the use of approval voting by February 15, 2020. The bill also authorizes a county clerk to decline to coordinate an election for a local government that chooses to hold an approval voting election.



Representative Singer showed a video and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment A). Representative Singer answered questions from the committee.



17HouseState0419AttachA.pdf



01:57 PM -- Suzanne Staiert, Department of State, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Staiert answered questions from the committee.



02:01 PM -- John Brackney, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brackney answered questions from the committee.



02:07 PM -- Martha Tierney, America Votes, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Tierney answered questions from the committee.



02:13 PM -- Harry Hempy, Greater Boulder County Green Party, testified in support of the bill.



02:18 PM -- Kjersten Forseth, Colorado AFL-CIO, testified in opposition to the bill.



02:21 PM -- Paul Tiger, Approval Voting 4 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Tiger answered questions from the committee.



02:26 PM -- Lauren Martens, Service Employees International Union, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Martens answered questions from the committee.



02:33 PM -- Carol Tone, League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



02:36 PM -- Karen Goldman, Colorado Municipal League and Colorado Municipal Clerks Association, testified in a neutral capacity.



02:39 PM -- Mike Spalding, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:40 PM -- Wayne Harlos, Libertarian Party of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



02:42 PM -- Frank Atwood, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:45 PM -- Elizabeth Steele, Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill.



02:47 PM -- Blake Huber, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:51 PM -- William Baer, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:56 PM -- Harvie Branscomb, electionquality.com, testified in support of the bill.



03:00 PM -- Bo Shaffer, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Shaffer answered questions from the committee.



03:07 PM -- Neal McBurnett, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



03:11 PM -- Natalie Menten, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Menten answered questions from the committee.



03:16 PM -- Alexander Winkler, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.





03:20 PM



Representative Singer explained amendment L.004 (Attachment B).



17HouseState0419AttachB.pdf

03:22 PM



Representative Singer made concluding remarks about the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.