Colorado Democrats are “fixing” the loose voting residency requirements they passed last year on a strictly partisan vote by extending them to local elections. The Colorado Observer reports: The state House gave final approval Thursday a bill to bring special district and non-partisan elections in line with the 2013 Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act, over the objections of Republicans who said the measure would expand the potential for voter fraud… Holbert countered that such voters would be able to argue they had not committed a felony as long as they repeat “the seven magic words: I intend to live in the district.” Democrats were relying on a couple of Republicans for a veneer of bipartisanship, but Rep. Carole Murray has already removed herself as a co-sponsor, and Senate co-sponsor Ellen Roberts is expected to follow suit. The bill now goes to the Senate, which two successful recalls reduced to a one-Democrat majority. But however House Bill 14-1164 plays out, the serious defects in Colorado’s electoral process created by HB 13-1303 remain.
House Majority Leader Dickey Lee Hullinghorst (D-Boulder) scoffed at warnings that the bill would open the door for outside voters to cast ballots in local races… “Why in the world would you do this intentionally when you’re subject to a felony?”