Colorado Democrats plan to hold a virtual state assembly and convention next year in an effort to make the party meeting more accessible to delegates across the state, party chair Shad Murib told Colorado Politics.

“I’m thrilled that the Colorado Democratic Party is making our most important event of the year more accessible than it has ever been for rural folks, working people, Coloradans with disabilities and young Democrats,” Murib said in a statement. “While Colorado Republicans are focused on limiting participation in their Party, we welcome everyone to join the Colorado Democratic Party.”

The Colorado GOP on Saturday failed to close its nominating process to unaffiliated voters next year by opting out of the semi-open primary system, which has been in effect since 2018. Under the state’s current primary process, voters who aren’t affiliated with a political party – nearly half of all registered voters – can cast ballots in either the Democratic or Republican primaries.

State Republicans are also suing to overturn the voter-approved law that established the system, arguing that it infringes on their constitutional right to nominate candidates without interference from voters who aren’t affiliated with the party.

State Democrats haven’t held a traditional, in-person state assembly since 2018. While both major parties scrambled to hold their state assemblies and conventions online in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, only the Democrats have stuck with the practice, including holding their 2022 assembly on a teleconference platform. The state GOP returned to the standard assembly last year and plans to continue meeting in person next year.

Colorado’s major parties typically convene state assemblies in early April in even-numbered years to nominate candidates and conduct party business. Every four years at the same meeting, the parties also hold what’s termed a convention to pick delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

“Holding a virtual assembly and convention creates an even playing field for every Colorado Democrat to be a part of this important democratic process,” state Democrats said in a statement.

Murib said the party is addressing concerns raised by disability advocates and younger Democrats, who have long complained that gathering the conventional way was burdensome or excluded too many potential participants.

“For almost a decade now, Americans with disabilities have been pleading with governments and businesses to integrate the use of remote technology into their practices,” said Jack Johnson, a Democratic state central committee member and disability policy expert, in a statement. “We’re proud of the Democratic Party for taking this important step that ensures every member of the Party has equal access to the democratic process.”

Colorado Young Dems chair Chris Davis called the decision “a huge step forward.”

“We cannot afford to travel across the state, take significant time off for work, and pay for room and board that traditional conventions have often required,” Davis added. “The Colorado Young Dems applaud CDP’s foresight and Chair Shad Murib’s work to make sure that all voices can be heard at our state convention!”

Only one statewide office will be on the Colorado ballot next year – the at-large University of Colorado regent seat. The major parties are also set to adopt a party platform, consider changes to party rules and elect delegates bound for their national conventions, where they’ll nominate presidential presidential candidates.

Additionally, multi-county judicial, legislative and congressional districts customarily hold their assemblies in conjunction with state assemblies.