Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed an elections bill that includes a last-minute amendment that would limit the concept of “ranked choice” voting to a pilot phase in several municipalities before it could be implemented statewide.

In a statement, Polis defended his decision to sign Senate Bill 210, saying it contains important provisions to ensure the “safe, efficient, and trustworthy administration” of elections.

As for the bill’s ranked choice voting provisions, the governor acknowledged it was added “without proper stakeholding” but noted that, if voters this November approved the ballot initiative on this issue, he will work to successfully implement it.

“To this end,” he said, “I plan to work to successfully implement any ballot initiative that passes on this topic, and will establish a formal process including the Governor’s Office, the Secretary of State’s office, local elections officials, members of the legislature, voting rights organizations, and proponents that fulfills the will of the voters and takes into consideration the needs of election administrators with a goal of implementation as soon as practicable and certainly no later than the 2028 election cycle for full implementation statewide.”

The last-minute amendment prompted calls from several groups to the governor to veto the measure. 

County clerks, on the other hand, said they prefered to see Senate Bill 210 signed. 

“We are grateful to Governor Polis for his signature on SB24-210,” the Colorado County Clerks Association said on Thursday. “This new law ensures our election officials and processes are more secure and better prepared heading into this important election year.”

In joint statement, Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, and House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, echoed Polis’ assurances should voters approved ranked choice voting.

“Notwithstanding language added to SB24-210, we would always work in good faith to uphold the will and intent of the voters on a practicable timeline, while taking into account the very real and legitimate implementation issues identified by our local election administrators,” the two leaders said.

Fenberg was one of the bill’s sponsors in the Senate, as was Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells. Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, sponsored the bill in the House.

House Minority Leader Rep. Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, said her caucus was divided on the bill. She said she is “committed to working with all sides” to implement the ballot initiative, if it passes, “in a way that respects voter intent and the needs of our county clerks.”

If voters embraced ranked choice voting this November, it will override the new law, according to Curtis Hubbard, a spokesman for Colorado Voters First, the group championing the initiative.