801B846C5243C8F58725852A0075D56A Hearing Summary

Senators Fenberg and Holbert, bill sponsors, presented the House Bill 20-1359 and distributed amendments L.0018, L.019, L.020 and L.021 (Attachments A, B, C, and D). Due to public health concerns, the bill extends various political party and state deadlines for the 2020 election, including:

• an extension for party and county assemblies to occur;
• an extension for the central committee of each political party to file certificates of designation with the Secretary of State; and
• an extension for the Secretary of State to deliver the certificate of the ballot to county clerks.

The bill allows for additional flexibility by political parties with respect to remote participation, quorum requirements, and proxy votes for assemblies or vacancy committees. Additionally, the ability of the state chair of a political party to fill a vacancy is extended to situations in which the vacancy occurs because the designation was not filled by the assembly or the vacancy committee. The provisions included in the bill are repealed on December 31, 2020.

Senator Fenberg reviewed the amendments.

Senator Holbert discussed the amendments.

Senator Marble distributed and discussed amendment L.017 (Attachment E).

Reese Edwards, Colorado Secretary of State, testified in support of the bill.

Jordan Lovinger, representing himself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.