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DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation that would make ballot language more accessible, transparent and easier to understand. HB26-1320 passed committee by a vote of 8-3.
“Colorado’s gold standard elections are the blueprint for other states, and we’re taking steps to expand ballot access,” said Rep. Kenny Nguyen, D-Broomfield. “This bill streamlines and simplifies ballot language so voters can make informed decisions when making their voice heard. When ballot titles are written in plain language, we can make voting more accessible for Coloradans.”
“Our elections in Colorado are free, fair and accessible, partly because we proactively improve our election system,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “This bill would require ballot language to be written in plain language, boosting accessibility. Knowledge is power, and this bill would also require tax initiatives that increase or reduce tax revenue to be stated clearly in the ballot title. Together, these efforts simplify Colorado’s ballots to make them more accessible for voters.”
HB26-1320 requires ballot titles to be written in plain language that is understood by the widest possible audience. Under this bill, ballot titles would be required to include language that is substantially similar to the statutory language, rather than word-for-word, to make it easier for voters to understand.
This bill also adds language to tax revenue ballot titles to include the effects of tax revenue increases or decreases to better inform voters. By including plain language in the bill title, voters would have a better understanding of the impact of a ballot measure from the beginning.
Colorado has one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country. HB26-1320 is the latest in a series of bills championed by Colorado Democrats to safeguard and improve Colorado’s gold standard election system. This includes HB26-1084, which aims to share information with voters about how much proposed ballot measures could cost the state and taxpayers, as well as the impacts on essential state services, and HB26-1113, which makes necessary modifications and updates to Colorado’s election system.