WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 25-1155

Modify Candidate Authority Watchers General Election

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Bradfield and 19 co-sponsors

Authorizes candidate-nominees to appoint central-count watchers; guarantees an extra watcher in recounts; parties must accept the picks at central facilities.

Governor Signed
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 25-1155

Summary — HB 25-1155: Modify Candidate Authority Over Watchers at General Elections and Recounts

Status: Governor signed (approved 2025-03-26)
Introduced: 2025-01-29
Primary sponsors: Mary Bradfield, Cecelia Espenoza, Rod Pelton, Jessie Danielson (among others)
Statutory changes: Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 1-1-104(51), 1-10.5-102(2), and 1-10.5-103

Purpose

HB 25-1155 clarifies and expands the authority of certain candidates to select election watchers in central count/count facilities for general and congressional vacancy elections and ensures a candidate subject to a recount may designate an additional watcher during recounts. The bill is intended to specify who may select watchers in central count facilities and to ensure candidates involved in recounts may appoint at least one watcher in addition to other watchers.

Key provisions

  • Definition amendment (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 1-1-104(51)):

    • Adds that a "watcher" also means an eligible elector selected by a candidate on the ballot for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, any state office, district office of state concern, or any county office who is subject to a recount.
    • Retains existing affiliation requirements: watchers selected by party chairpersons or party candidates must show that party affiliation (or unaffiliated) in the statewide registration system; watchers selected by unaffiliated candidates must be unaffiliated.

  • Candidate authority in central count facilities:

    • Authorizes (but does not require) a candidate nominated by a participating political party for a general or congressional vacancy election to select the watchers permitted in each central count facility.
    • If a candidate-nominee exercises this authority, the participating political party must accept the candidate’s choices and may not supply different or additional watchers at the count facilities.
    • The participating political party retains its existing entitlement to watchers for signature verification and at voter service and polling centers.

  • Recount watcher rules (Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 1-10.5-102(2) and 1-10.5-103):

    • The Secretary of State’s recount rules must require county clerks and recorders to allow any candidate who is subject to a recount to select one watcher for that recount in addition to any watchers otherwise allowed.
    • For recounts coordinated by county clerks under § 1-10.5-103, county clerks must ensure any candidate subject to such a recount may select one additional watcher.

Who is affected

  • Candidates nominated by participating political parties in general and congressional vacancy elections (candidate-nominees) — they gain explicit authority to select central count watchers.
  • Participating political parties — may lose the ability to appoint watchers at central count facilities if the candidate exercises the new authority, though they keep watchers for other parts of the process.
  • County clerks and the Secretary of State — must update procedures/rules to implement the watcher-selection and recount-watcher provisions.
  • Eligible electors who serve as watchers — subject to the existing affiliation and eligibility rules.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Recount completion deadlines remain unchanged: recounts must be completed no later than 31 days after an election.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following final adjournment of the General Assembly, unless a referendum petition is filed. If a referendum is filed, the act (or the referenced part) will not take effect unless approved by voters at the November 2026 general election. The act applies to recounts held on or after its effective date.

Legislative history (selected)

  • House introduced 2025-01-29; passed House and Senate in Feb–Mar 2025 without final Senate amendments.
  • Sent to Governor 2025-03-20; Governor signed 2025-03-26.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.