The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for June 10, 2024
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
Colorado’s governor signed a bill June 6th implementing several election administration changes which local election officials supported. But a late amendment may have neutralized an open primary and ranked choice voting initiative before the voters in November.
Among the SB 210 election administration changes were modifying rules on drop boxes, third party candidate qualification, mail-in voting tweaks, and several other housekeeping changes. A ballot initiative backed by Colorado Voters First which proposes a “top four” single ballot open primary system using ranked choice voting is likely to appear on Colorado’s ballot in November. The proposal is similar to Alaska’s, where all candidates, regardless of party, appear on one primary ballot, and the top 4 advance to the general election.
But the Colorado Sun reports that in early May, an amendment added to SB 210 would stop implementation of the Colorado Voters First initiative should it pass, and instead set up a ranked choice voting pilot in certain counties for local elections, before rolling it out for statewide or federal elections.
In his signing statement supporting the bill, Governor Jared Polis expressed distaste for the amendment. If the initiative passes, he promises an executive order convening election officials to implement the top 4 open primary and ranked choice voting as expediently as possible.
Read the bill and the Governor’s statement, and find the groups taking action, at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Colorado Sun – If voters adopt statewide ranked choice voting, Colorado may prevent it from taking effect
Colorado Sun – Colorado governor signs bill that would prevent voter-adopted statewide ranked choice voting from taking effect
Colorado Legislature – SB24-210 Summary
Colorado Secretary of State – Ballot initiative language
BallotPedia – Colorado Top-Four Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative (2024)
Minnesota Public Radio – Vote for Your Favorite Color Using Ranked Choice Voting
Groups Taking Action:
Colorado Voters First, Open Primaries, Ranked Choice Voting for Colorado
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