Title Board prepares to hear 6 ballot proposals
On Thursday, six proposed ballot measures will go before the Initiative Title Setting Review Board to determine whether they will advance one step closer to the 2020 statewide ballot.
The Title Board, in accordance with state law, sets the language that appears before voters as long as the proposal pertains to a single subject.
The measures — encompassing changes to campaign finance, elections and even criminal law — are as follows:
Tax credits for voting (Initiative 83): Beginning on Jan. 1, 2022, Colorado residents who vote in primary and general elections would receive a $40 tax credit for each occasion on which they vote. The measure directs auditors to look at public voting histories to confirm participation. The measure is silent about whether participation in municipal elections, runoffs and special elections would qualify. The designated representatives are Nathan Clay and Mark A. Tejeda. The men, both of Denver, brought forth four of the six measures pending a title.
Approval voting (Initiative 104): Calling itself the “Approval Voting Act,” the draft measure would redesign the election process such that “each elector may select (approve) any number of candidates. The winner is the most-approved candidate.” Ballot design must enable voters to make as many selections as there are listed candidates. In local contests, such as school boards or city councils, where multiple candidates can win multiple seats, the victors will remain those individuals with the greatest number of votes. The proposal would enact the change in 2022. The designated representatives are Clay and Tejeda.
Election Day as a state holiday (Initiative 105): This brief proposition would amend the list of legal holidays in the Colorado Revised Statutes to include “the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even year, commonly called Democracy Day.” According to the Employment Law Book, state employees may still be required to work on legal holidays, but must be granted an alternative day off. Private employers are not required to close. The measure would not create a holiday in odd-numbered years or for primary or local general elections that take place outside of November. The designated representatives are Clay and Tejeda.
Vouchers for campaigns (Initiative 106): Known as the “Democracy Voucher Act,” the proposal would create non-transferrable vouchers for registered voters to donate to campaign committees for Colorado political candidates. In odd years, each voter would receive 10 vouchers worth $5 each. In even years, voters would receive 10 vouchers worth $10 each. A person could donate as many of the vouchers to a single candidate as he or she wishes, and the secretary of state would create a procedure for redeeming the vouchers. Donations would be irrevocable. The proposal appears to limit vouchers only to campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, governor and General Assembly. The designated representatives are Clay and Tejeda.
Petitions (Initiative 127): Previously denied a title on the grounds that it did not pertain to a single subject, the Title Board will grant the initiative’s proponents a rehearing. Known as the “Petition Rights Amendment,” the measure would create a right to ballot initiative at every level of government in the state, assign new jurisdiction to the Colorado Supreme Court, and compress the timeline for challenges to initiatives. The designated representatives are Natalie Menten of Lakewood and Donald L. “Chip” Creager III of Denver.
Expungement of eligible criminal records (Initiative 131): This measure establishes a procedure for expunging criminal records. If a person is arrested and not charged, a district court shall destroy the record of the arrest within 31 days. The same would occur were a trial to result in an acquittal or dismissal. Convictions eligible for expungement would include Class 1 and Class 2 petty offenses, drug petty offenses, misdemeanor traffic offenses, drug misdemeanor and felony offenses, and certain classes of felonies. The measure would establish expungement fees, to be distributed to a variety of programs encompassing first responder safety, life skills and agricultural education, among other causes. The designated representative are Stephen Ball and Paul Ball of Denver.
Colorado Politics Must-Reads:

