WeVote
Log In

Bill

LS

Bill

HB 25-1193

Vote Transparency Protocol Act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Larry Suckla

The Vote Transparency Protocol Act sought to enhance voting integrity in Colorado through annual re-registration, vote tracking, and a distributed ledger system, but was postponed indefinitely.

House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 25-1193

Summary of HB 25-1193: Vote Transparency Protocol Act

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 25-1193
Title: Vote Transparency Protocol Act
Status: Postponed Indefinitely by the House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
Introduced: February 10, 2025
Prime Sponsor: Rep. Suckla

The Vote Transparency Protocol Act aimed to enhance the transparency and integrity of the voting process in Colorado by implementing a new system for voter registration, verification, and vote tracking through distributed ledger technology.

Main Purpose and Intent

The primary intent of HB 25-1193 was to create a more transparent voting process by:
- Establishing a distributed ledger system for all statewide elections.
- Requiring annual voter re-registration.
- Enhancing voter verification processes to ensure the integrity of each vote cast.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several significant changes to the voting process, including:

  1. Distributed Ledger Voting:

    • Mandated the use of a distributed ledger to record votes, ensuring that information is publicly accessible while maintaining voter privacy through coded entries.

  2. Voter Registration:

    • Required all voters to re-register annually.
    • Introduced a process for obtaining mail-in ballots, which included providing personal information and verification through the Department of State (DOS) website or alongside utility bill payments.

  3. Vote Verification and Tracking:

    • Assigned unique voter identifier numbers and vote tracking numbers to each voter and ballot, respectively.
    • Created multiple transparency ledgers (ballot transparency, cast vote transparency, and vetting transparency) to allow voters to verify their votes.

  4. Audit and Oversight:

    • Required the DOS to conduct audits to confirm that no voter voted more than once and to ensure all votes were accurately recorded.
    • Allowed voters to view how their vote was recorded for a fee not exceeding $20.

  5. Withdrawal from ERIC:

    • Mandated the DOS to withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and to hire a non-state agency to verify the deletion of voter registrations annually.

Fiscal Impact

The bill was projected to have significant financial implications:
- Appropriations: Required an appropriation of $27.8 million for FY 2025-26 to implement the proposed changes.
- State Revenue: Expected to generate up to $27 million in FY 2023-24 and $11 million in subsequent years through increased fees.
- State Expenditures: Estimated to incur costs of $27.8 million in FY 2025-26 and $11.3 million in FY 2026-27, primarily for the Department of State.

Affected Parties

The bill would have impacted:
- Voters: Required to re-register annually and provide additional verification for mail-in ballots.
- Department of State: Tasked with implementing the new voting system and managing the associated costs and audits.
- Local Governments: Potentially affected by changes in how votes are counted and reported.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill was introduced on February 10, 2025, and was assigned to the House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs.
  • On March 3, 2025, the committee recommended that the bill be postponed indefinitely, halting its progress.

Conclusion

While the Vote Transparency Protocol Act aimed to enhance the integrity and transparency of the voting process in Colorado, it was ultimately postponed indefinitely, preventing any of its proposed changes from being enacted.

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

Sign in to ask a question.