Colorado Secretary of State’s Office Permanently Adopts Amended Election Rules; Files Notice of Temporary Adoption of Further Revisions

Denver, September 9, 2024 - The Secretary of State’s Office has adopted permanent rule revisions to ensure uniform and proper administration, implementation, and enforcement of Colorado election law. The Office has also issued a notice of temporary adoption of a subset of those rules with immediate effect. 

The adopted permanent rules include a new rule prohibiting terminating a contract for the purchase, lease, or use of a voting system within the timeframe surrounding an election; new rules regarding watchers at in-person voting in county jails; further requirements of background checks required by voting system providers; new requirements regarding the custody and retention of voted ballots; and a number of additional changes.

The rules adopted temporarily with immediate effect include new rules to ensure the successful implementation of SB24-072 ("Voting for Confined Eligible Electors"), and rules pertaining to the appointments of and the tasks assigned to student election judges by county clerks. They also add additional requirements related to the security of drop boxes. 

A public rulemaking hearing was held August 15, 2024 at 9 a.m. MT to hear testimony concerning the preliminary draft of permanent rules for Elections. This hearing was conducted in person and via webinar. 

Notice of Adoption (PDF)

Notice of Temporary Adoption (PDF)

Elections rulemaking hearing page

Notice of Rulemaking (PDF)

The permanent rules will become effective twenty days after publication in the Colorado Register, then superseding the temporary rules that are effective immediately.

Members of the public with questions about rulemaking should contact SoS.Rulemaking@coloradosos.gov.

Members of the press with questions relating to the rulemaking should contact communications@coloradosos.gov.