Guidelines & requirements for petitions

Preparing petition sections for circulation

After the titles have been set by the Title Board, no petition section may be printed, published or otherwise circulated until the petition format has been created by the Secretary of State and the printer’s proof has been approved by the Secretary of State.

The designated representatives are responsible for requesting the creation of the format and filing the printer’s proof with the Secretary of State.

No printer’s proof will receive final approval by the Secretary of State’s office until after the seven days to file a motion for rehearing with the Title Board have passed.

If a motion for rehearing is filed, then the printer’s proof will not receive final approval by the Secretary of State until after the final decision of the Title Board.

No petition may be printed, published or otherwise circulated until the printer’s proof of the petition has been filed with and approved by the Secretary of State.

The designated representatives should first request the creation of petition format for their initiative by email. Once Secretary of State staff create the format, the format will be e-mailed to the designated representatives for their review. After the designated representatives review the format and all requirements have been met, typos corrected, and the form meets their approval, then the printer’s proof can be filed.

Requests for the creation of a petition format should be e-mailed to: ballot.access@coloradosos.gov

The scanned images of the hard copy of the printer’s proof should be e-mailed to: ballot.access@coloradosos.gov

For additional information, see sections 1-40-110, 1-40-113, and 1-40-114, C.R.S.

Petition format

Each petition section must be pre-numbered serially prior to circulation and include the following:

1) The names and mailing addresses of the two designated representatives

2) The fiscal abstract of the proposed measure

3) The language of the proposed measure

4) Each page must contain:

• the WARNING (to appear at the top of each page);

• the ballot title and submission clause;

• Consecutively numbered signature lines that provide spaces for:

° the signature and printed name of each signer;

° the signer’s residence address (including house number and street) and city or town;

° the signer’s county; and

° the date and year of signing for each signer.

5) The last page of the section must include the affidavit to be signed by the petition circulator and notarized.

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