s_sa_2017a_2017-02-22t13:37:10z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/22/2017

Location: SCR 357

01:37 PM -- SB17-071



Senator Scott announced that the committee would hear testimony on Senate Bill 17-071 and Senate Bill 17-138 but lay the bills over for action only at a later date.



Senator Tate, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 17-071 to the committee. For counties with at least 25,000 active voters (large counties), this bill reduces the number of voter service and polling centers (vote centers) required during the first seven days of early voting. During this time, large counties must operate at least one vote center for every 75,000 active voters, rather than one for every 30,000 voters as required under current law. This bill also eliminates the requirement that vote centers be open on the first Saturday of the early voting period. The requirement for operating vote centers in the second half of early voting is unchanged by the bill.



Committee members discussed the bill with Senator Tate.



01:42 PM -- Elizabeth Steele, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified against the bill.



01:46 PM -- Celia Reyes-Martinez, representing herself, testified against the bill.



01:48 PM -- Carla Castedo, representing Mi Familia Vota, testified against the bill.



01:51 PM -- Jessica Campbell-Swanson, representing herself, testified against the bill.



01:55 PM -- Jennifer Levin, representing Disability Law Colorado, testified against the bill.



01:58 PM -- Lizzy Stephan, representing New Era Colorado, testified against the bill.



02:01 PM -- Suzanne Staiert, Deputy Secretary of State, testified in support of the bill. She responded to committee member questions.



02:09 PM -- Matt Crane, Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill. He provided a handout to committee members (Attachment A) and responded to committee member questions.



17SenateState0222AttachA.pdf



02:31 PM -- Ryan Parsell, representing the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill.



02:35 PM -- Harvie Branscomb, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.



02:38 PM -- Eric Bergman, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill.



02:39 PM -- Andrea Wilkins, representing the League of Women Voters of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.



02:42 PM -- Cathy Jarrett, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.



02:45 PM -- JM Fay, representing herself, testified on the bill. Senator Holbert read Ms. Fay's testimony.





02:47 PM



Senator Scott laid over SB 17-071 for action only.