HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMMITTEE GUIDELINES 2009 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
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Committee (Unofficial, Issue, and Political) Guidelines
for the
2009 General Municipal Election
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
November 3, 2009
City of Boulder
Office of the City Clerk
GENERAL INFORMATION
City
Boulder
Office of the City Clerk
Alisa Lewis, CMC
June 16, 2009
This booklet has been prepared as a general guide for committees participating in the City of
Boulder's November 3, 2009 General Municipal Election. (Note: City council candidates and
their official committees should refer to Candidate Guidelines for the City Council Election
available from the City Clerk or the website address below.) It provides a summary of all
requirements associated with the election and the specific code sections from the Boulder
Revised Code 1981.
This booklet should answer most of your questions. However, if you have questions regarding
issues not included or fully clarified, please feel free to call me or Dianne Marshall, Campaign
Finance Administrator at 303-489-0892.
In addition, information is available on the City Website at:
http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/elections
We look forward to assisting you in this 2009 General Municipal Election.
Sincerely,
4
44
Alisa D. Lewis
Director of Support Services/City Clerk
GENERAL INFORMATION
FORMATTING CONVENTIONS USED IN THIS GUIDE
The following formatting conventions are used throughout this
document:
• Defined terms are italicized. (Definitions are provided in the
"Key Definitions" section of this document.)
• Titles of election forms are italicized.
• Election form numbers are listed in parentheses following the
title of the form. The form number provides a specific citing to
the relevant section of the Boulder City Code or the Uniform
Election Code.
• Underlining and bold are used for emphasis.
• Some underlined words or phrases are hyperlinks in the
electronic version of this document. Simply click on the word
or phrase and the definition or section.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Table of Contents
General Information 7
Election Information on City Website ..................................................................................7
Election Administration ........................................................................................................7
City Clerk's Office 7
Campaign Finance Reform (CFR) Implementation 7
Boulder County - Voter Registration & Mail Ballot Process 7
Date of Election ....................................................................................................................7
Mail Ballot Election ..............................................................................................................7
City Council Election Information .......................................................................................8
Issues on Ballot .....................................................................................................................8
Printed and Electronic Informational Resources ..................................................................8
Candidate/Committee Open Houses .....................................................................................8
Campaign Finance Disclosure ..............................................................................................8
Campaign Advertising Identification ....................................................................................9
Posting of Campaign Signs ...................................................................................................9
Key Definitions ........................................................................................................................................10
Ballot proposition ...............................................................................................................10
Candidate ............................................................................................................................10
Candidate committee ..........................................................................................................10
Committee ..........................................................................................................................10
Contribution ........................................................................................................................10
Contribution in-kind ...........................................................................................................10
Expenditure .........................................................................................................................11
Expenditure limit ................................................................................................................11
Independent expenditure I l
Individual contributor .........................................................................................................11
In-kind contribution 11
Issue ....................................................................................................................................11
Issue committee ..................................................................................................................12
Official candidate committee ..............................................................................................12
Person .................................................................................................................................12
Political comtnittee .............................................................................................................12
Unofficial candidate committee ..........................................................................................12
Campaign Finance Reform (CFR) Initiative .........................................................................................14
Background .........................................................................................................................14
Who Is Impacted By CFR Initiative ...................................................................................14
Text of CFR Initiative .........................................................................................................14
CFR Election Parameters for 2009 General Municipal Election ........................................18
GENERAL INFORMATION
Unofficial Candidate Committees ........................................................................................................19
Organizing an Unofficial Candidate Committee ................................................................19
Establishing a Campaign Bank Account ............................................................................19
Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................19
Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................19
Required Forms .....................................................................................................20
Dues Dates for Independent Expenditures 20
Changes to Information Submitted 20
Unexpended Campaign Contributions ................................................................................20
Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Unofficial Candidate Committees ........................21
Issue Committees ...................................................................................................................................22
Organizing an Issue Committee ..........................................................................................22
Establishing a Campaign Bank Account ............................................................................22
Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................22
Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................22
Required Forms .....................................................................................................23
Changes to Information Submitted ........................................................................23
Unexpended Campaign Contributions ................................................................................23
Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Issue Committees ..................................................24
Political Committees ..............................................................................................................................25
Organizing a Political Committee .......................................................................................25
Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................25
Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................25
Independent Expenditures Greater Than $200 ....................................................................................26
Individuals ..........................................................................................................................26
Unofficial Candidate Committees and Political Committees .............................................26
Due Dates for Independent Expenditures ...........................................................................26
Independent Expenditures Made Before 5:00 p.m. on October 13, 2009 26
Independent Expenditures Made After 5:00 p.m. on October 13 and Before 7:00 a.m. on November 2
26
Independent Expenditures Made On Day Before or Day of Election 26
Disclosure Requirements ....................................................................................................27
Record Keeping & Accountability .....................................................................................27
Limits on Contributions ...........................................................................................................................28
Limits on Contributions for Unofficial Candidate Committees .........................................28
Anonymous Contributions ..................................................................................................28
Candidates Not Receiving Matching Funds, Their Candidate Committees & Unofficial Candidate
Committees 28
Issue Committees & Political Committees ............................................................28
Contributions from City Contractors ..................................................................................29
GENERAL INFORMATION
Disclosure and Attribution Requirements .............................................................................................30
Election Materials & Advertising .......................................................................................30
Solicitation for Candidate Campaign Funds .......................................................................30
Restricted and Prohibited Activities ......................................................................................................31
Restrictions on Increased Fees for Municipal Election Advertising ...................................31
Restrictions on Contributions in Another's Name ..............................................................31
Restrictions on Contributions by City Contractors .............................................................31
Restrictions on Representation of Campaign Authority .....................................................31
Violations & Filing Complaints ...............................................................................................................32
Criminal Acts & Penalties ..................................................................................................32
Civil Remedies ....................................................................................................................32
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .....................................................................................................33
Official Candidate Committees vs. Unofficial Candidate Committees ..............................33
Contributions ......................................................................................................................34
Expenditures .......................................................................................................................35
Reporting by Committees ...................................................................................................36
Violations & Complaints ....................................................................................................36
Getting Help ........................................................................................................................37
Tips For Running A Campaign ...............................................................................................................38
Setting Up Your Committee ...............................................................................................38
Role of the Treasurer 38
Establishing a Committee Bank Account ...........................................................................38
Record Keeping is Critical ..................................................................................................38
Disclosure & Attributions ...................................................................................................39
Contribution Limits for Unofficial Candidate Committees ................................................39
Form Titles & Form Numbers ..................................................................................................................40
Boulder Revised Code, 1981, Title 13 41
City of Boulder Charter, Article III .........................................................................................................69
Colorado Uniform Election Code, Excerpts Regarding Mail Ballot Elections 73
GENERAL INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
Election Information on City Website
This Guide is available on the City of Boulder's website at http:i/www.bouldercolorado.gov/elections.
Election Administration
City Clerk's Office
Municipal elections in the City of Boulder are administered by the City Clerk pursuant to the applicable
provisions of the Charter and Code of the City of Boulder and the Colorado Uniform Election Code.
Campaign Finance Reform (CFR) Implementation
Implementation of the City's CFR Initiative is administered by the City Clerk and her staff.
Location: Municipal Building
1777 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302
Mailing Address: Office of the City Clerk
City of Boulder
P.O. Box 791,
Boulder, CO 80301-2546
Telephone: 303.489-0892
Fax: 303.441.4935
Email: CFRAdmingbouldercolorado.gov
Boulder County - Voter Registration & Mail Ballot Process
Information on voter registration and the mail ballot process should be directed to:
Boulder County Elections
175033 rd Street, Suite 200
Boulder, CO 80306
Telephone: 303.413.7740
Date of Election
The General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
Mail Ballot Election
The City of Boulder Municipal Election will be conducted as a coordinated election with Boulder County
by mail ballot.
All active voters are automatically mailed a ballot to the address at which they are registered 22 days to
18 days prior to the date of the election. An active voter is any voter who cast a ballot in the most recent
general election, has registered to vote since the last general election, or who has updated an existing
voter registration record since the last general election. Ballots cannot be forwarded.
Ballots will be available at the County Clerk and Recorder's Office for any inactive voter wishing to vote,
for voters who have moved and therefore did not receive a ballot and for any other eligible voter who for
whatever reason did not receive a ballot. These voters will need to sign a sworn statement to the
GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE 7
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
circumstances regarding their need for a ballot and make an address change to their voter registration
records if they have moved. The ballot may be picked up in person by the voter or may be mailed directly
to the voter. Ballots returned to the County Clerk as undeliverable will be logged in, held in a locked area
and fully accounted for as part of the audit process.
Completed ballots may be returned by mail or dropped off at any office of the Boulder County Clerk. In
order to be counted, they must be received no later than 7:00 p.m. on election night.
City Council Election Information
• City elections are non-partisan.
• All City Council members are elected at-large. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen for
two-year terms by the Council from among its nine members. There are five council seats open
in the 2009 General Municipal Election.
• All Council members, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, are compensated $179.91 per
meeting up to a maximum of four meetings per month.
Issues on Ballot
At the time of publication of this document, no issues have been identified for the 2009 General
Municipal Election.
Printed and Electronic Informational Resources
The following resources are available in through the CFR Program Administrator at the City Clerk's
Office and the City's website.
• Candidate Guidelines for the Citv Council Election (2009 General Municipal Election).
• Committee (Unofficial, Issue, and Political) Guidelines for the 2009 General Municipal Election.
The above documents are also available in printed format.
Candidate/Committee Open Houses
The Candidate/Committee Open House is designed for candidates and campaign committee members. It
is especially important that candidates and committee treasurers attend. All training will be held in the
lobby of the Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Overview of 2009 Election Guides, Petition Process & Reporting Forms
Thursday, July 30
Financial Reporting Training for Candidates & Committee Treasurers
Thursday, August 20
Financial Reporting Training for Candidates & Committee Treasurers
Thursday, September 10
Campaign Finance Disclosure
The Boulder Revised Code (Section 13-2-1 et seq.) requires financial disclosure information from
candidates for the office of council member and from political, official candidate, unofficial candidate,
and issue committees supporting such candidates or issues on a municipal election ballot.
Financial disclosure is also required of any citizen or other entity making an independent expenditure
greater than $200 in support of or opposition to the election of a candidate or candidates for City Council.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Filing requirements for unofficial candidate committees, issue committees, political committees, and
independent expenditures can be found in the section titled Independent Expenditures Greater Than $200
of this publication.
Campaign Advertising Identification
All campaign literature and advertising that expressly supports or opposes a candidate or candidates for
City Council must include the name of the person (individual, corporation, committee, etc.) who financed
the composition, presentation or distribution of campaign materials or advertisements in the content of the
materials.
The usual wording is "Paid for by (name)."
Any type of general public political advertising (through a broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine,
outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing, web sites, emails etc.) that is done to solicit contributions to
finance communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly defined candidate:
• Must identify who paid for the advertising.
• Must identify whether or not the advertisement is authorized by the candidate, the o icial
candidate committee, or its agents.
• Must include the following notice on the face of the front page of all literature and
advertisements: "A copy of our report is filed with the City Clerk of the City of Boulder,
Colorado."
Posting of Campaign Signs
Political campaign signs are prohibited on any public right of way or public property (including street
medians) other than designated kiosks.
In all residential zoning districts, all political signs:
• Must be set back at least eighteen inches from any public sidewalk adjacent to a street or from
the curb or outer edge of the roadway if there is no such sidewalk.
• Must not exceed seven feet in height.
• Must not exceed 12 square feet in total sign area, with no face larger than 6 square feet.
Note: One large political sign may appear that does not exceed 32
square feet in total sign area, with a face no larger than 16 square
feet.
• Must be removed the day after the election.
Before posting any political signs, permission should be obtained from the property owner. The
preceding rules regarding the placement of political signs are selected portions of the Boulder Sign Code
and are not totally inclusive. The City of Boulder Sign Code is available for your review in Central
Records, located in the Municipal Building at 1777 Broadway, at www.boulderplandevelop.net or you
may call Sign Code Administration at 303-441-3346.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
KEY DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are provided for your reference:
Ballot proposition
Ballot proposition means any amendment to the City Charter, and any initiative, referendum, or recall for
which petitions have been properly certified by the City Clerk for submission to the City Council,
or any ordinance or issue put to a vote of the electors of the City of Boulder under the provisions
of the City Charter. Such term does not include any ballot issue placed on the ballot by the
United States, the State of Colorado or any political subdivision thereof other than the City.
Candidate
Candidate means any person whose petition of nomination for City Council, whether at a regular, special,
or recall election, has been certified as sufficient by the City Clerk pursuant to Charter Section 26.
Candidate committee
Candidate committee means a person, including the candidate, or persons with the common purpose of
receiving contributions or making expenditures under the authority of a candidate. The term
official candidate committee is synonymous with candidate committee. (A candidate has only one
official candidate committee.)
Committee
Committee means an official candidate committee, an unofflcial candidate committee, and an issue
committee, unless the context indicates that it can mean only one or two of these types of
committee.
Contribution
Contribution means:
1. Any payment, loan, pledge, or advance of money, including, without limitation, checks received
but not deposited or payments made by credit card, or guarantee of a loan, made to or for the
benefit of any candidate or committee;
2. Any payment made to a third parry for the benefit of any candidate or committee, including
without limitation the use of a credit card to secure such benefit;
3. Anything of value given, directly or indirectly, to a candidate for the purpose of promoting the
candidate's election, including without limitation commercial services such as banking, printing,
and mailing services; or
4. With regard to a contribution for which the contributor receives compensation or consideration of
less than equivalent value to such contribution, including, without limitation, items of perishable
or non-permanent value, goods, supplies, services, or participation in a campaign-related event,
an arnount equal to the value in excess of such compensation or consideration.
Contribution does not include services provided without compensation by individuals
volunteering their time on behalf of a candidate or committee.
Contribution in-kind
Contribution in-kind is synonymous with in-hind contribution.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Expenditure
Expenditure means the payment, distribution, loan, or advance of any money by any candidate or
committee, whether in cash, by check, as a credit card charge, or otherwise. Expenditure also
includes the payment, distribution, loan, or advance of any money by a person for the benefit of a
candidate or committee that is made with prior knowledge and consent of an agent of the
candidate or committee. An expenditure occurs when the actual payment is made or when a
contract is agreed upon, whichever comes first. Consent may be implied from collaboration and
need not be express.
Expenditure limit
Expenditure limit is the amount to which a candidate seeking public matching funds agrees to limit his or
her campaign expenditures. It is a predetenmined amount based on a formula specified in the
1999 Campaign Finance Reform Initiative passed by Boulder electors and is adjusted based on
the CPI for the Boulder area. The expenditure limit for the 2009 General Municipal Election is
$15,771.
Independent expenditure
Independent expenditure means an expenditure by any person for the purpose of expressly advocating
the election or defeat of a candidate or candidates, which expenditure is not controlled by,
coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate or candidate committee or any
agent of such candidate or committee. Independent expenditure does not include expenditures
made by persons, other than political parties and political committees, in the regular course and
scope of their business, including political messages sent solely to members.
(It is important to keep in mind that if two or more individuals jointly make an independent
expenditure of any amount, by definition, they become an unofficial candidate committee and
must meet all of the reporting requirements for an unofficial candidate committee. This is also
true of a corporation, a partnership, a commission, etc.)
Individual contributor
Individual contributor is synonymous with person.
In-kind contribution
In-kind contribution means the fair market value of a gift or loan of any item of real or personal property,
other than money, made to or for any candidate or committee for the purpose of influencing the
passage or defeat of any issue or the election or defeat of any candidate. Personal services are a
in-kind contribution by the person paying compensation therefore. In determining the value to be
placed on contributions in-kind, a reasonable estimate of fair market value shall be used by the
candidate or committee.
In-kind contribution does not include an endorsement of a candidate or an issue by any person.
In-kind contribution does not include the payment of compensation for legal and accounting
services rendered to a candidate if the person paying for the services is the regular employer of
the individual rendering the services and the services are solely for the purpose of ensuring
compliance with the election laws.
Issue
Issue is synonymous with ballot proposition.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Issue committee
Issue committee means any two or more natural persons who collaborate together, or any corporation,
partnership, commission, association, or any other organization or group of persons, that accepts
contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of opposing or supporting a ballot
proposition at a City election, regardless of whether it has obtained the consent of the sponsors of
the ballot proposition.
Official candidate committee
Official candidate committee is synonymous with candidate committee.
Person
Person means a natural person, corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, and any other
group acting as a unit as well as individuals. (Person has the same meaning as individual
contributor.)
Political committee
Political committee means any two or more natural persons who collaborate together, or any corporation,
partnership, commission, association, or any other organization or group of persons, that accepts
contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of opposing or supporting a candidate for
City Council, or a City ballot proposition, and which, because of campaign activities concerning
other candidates, other ballot measures, or both, is required under the Fair Campaign Practices
Act found in state law to file statements and reports with the Secretary of State or the County
Clerk and Recorder.
No candidate committee or other committee, the expenditures of which are in any way, directly or
indirectly, controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate or
candidate committee or agent thereof, shall be deemed a political committee eligible for the
political committee filing requirements.
Unofficial candidate committee
Unofficial candidate committee means any two or more natural persons who collaborate together, or any
corporation, partnership, commission, association, or any other organization or group of persons,
that accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of expressly advocating the
election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for City Council. An uao ficiol candidate
committee ceases to be independent if its expenditures are in any way, directly or indirectly,
controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate or candidate
committee or agent thereof.
- Note: It is important to keep in mind that if two or more individuals jointly
make an independent expenditure of any amount, by definition
they become an unofficial candidate committee and must meet all
of the reporting requirements for an unofficial candidate
committee. This is also true of a corporation, a partnership, a
commission, etc.
- Note: If there is collaboration of any kind between an unofficial candidate
committee and a candidate, the official candidate committee or
any agent of the candidate, the unofficial candidate committee,
by definition becomes part of the official candidate committee.
This means any contributions collected and any expenditures made
by the unofficial candidate committee must be reported by the
candidate. If contributions have been made by a person to both
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
committees, the $100 contribution limit may have been exceeded.
In addition, candidates who are receiving matching funds risk
exceeding their expenditure limits.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE
Background
The Campaign Finance Reform Initiative was adopted by City of Boulder electors in 1999 and was
implemented for the first time in the 2001 Municipal election. Key goals in implementing the initiative
are:
• To make the process as simple to use as possible.
• To make the process as simple to administer as possible.
• To ensure that there are thorough controls over public funds used to fund City Council
campaigns.
• To provide easy, timely citizen access to key financial infonnation about City Council
campaigns.
Who Is Impacted By CFR Initiative
Although many people think of campaign finance reform as public funding for City Council candidates,
the impact is actually much broader. The key aspects of the CFR Initiative and those potentially impacted
are:
1. Contribution Limitations: Impacts all candidates for City Council, all official candidate
committees and all unofficial candidate committees. (Contribution limits apply whether or not a
candidate receives public matching funds.)
2. Public Financing for Cih~ Council Candidates: Impacts candidates for City Council who qualify
and apply for public matching funds and their official candidate committees. (Candidates are not
required to apply for public funding.)
3. Independent Expenditures: Impacts any natural person or other entity (corporation, organization,
unofficial candidate committee, political committee, etc.) that makes an expenditure of greater
than $200 to support or oppose a candidate or candidates in a City Council election.
Text of CFR Initiative
This section contains the actual text of the Campaign Finance Reform Initiative that was passed by
Boulder electors in 1999. (Please keep in mind that an ordinance was adopted by City Council in July of
2001 that changed some provisions of the Initiative. These changes were necessary to accommodate
court rulings made following the Initiative's passage. Section 5 of the CFR Initiative, covering
independent expenditures, has changed as a result of the ordinance.)
Now, therefore, be it ordained that:
1. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. To assure the public that:
(a) excessive campaign costs and large contributions do not cause
corruption or the appearance of corruption in the election process;
(b) large campaign contributions will not be used to buy political
access or to influence governmental actions;
(c) access to large amounts of money will not be a prime requirement
for participation in the political process.
2. CONTRIBUTION LIMITATION. No candidate for city council, or candidate
committee, shall solicit or accept any contribution, including any "in-kind"
contribution, that will cause the total contributions from any person, as defined
in the B.R.C., 1981, to exceed one hundred dollars with respect to any single
election to that candidate. The recipient of any contribution which would
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 14
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
cause the total amount of contributions to a candidate from a single person to
exceed one hundred dollars shall promptly return any such excess to the
donor.
3. PUBLIC MATCHING FUNDS.
(a) The city will allocate and provide matching funds, up to fifty percent
of the expenditure limit as herein defined, to any city council
candidate who meets the eligibility requirements set out in
Paragraph 4. below. The expenditure limit shall be set at fifteen
cents, per registered city voter as of the day after the date set by
state law for the purging of registration records of the election year.
This limit shall be adjusted based on changes in the Consumer Price
Index (all items) of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
and Statistics, for the statistical area which includes the city, in an
amount equal to the percentage change for the preceding two
years. Only actual currency or its equivalent shall be matched with
public funds. Neither loans nor in-kind contributions nor amounts
exceeding one hundred dollars from the candidate's personal
wealth shall be eligible for matching funds.
(b) After meeting the eligibility requirements, any candidate may
request matching funds from the city no more frequently than once
per week in amounts no less than five hundred dollars. The final
request for matching funds must be submitted to the city no later
than fourteen days before the election, but may be for less than five
hundred dollars.
4. ELIGIBILITY FOR MATCHING FUNDS. A candidate who meets the
following requirements shall be eligible to receive matching funds:
(a) The candidate raises at least ten percent of the expenditure limit
from individual contributors. No more than twenty-five dollars of
each contribution may be counted toward the ten percent, and
(b) The candidate signs a contract with the city committing to the
following:
(1) Agrees to limit his or her expenditures to fifteen cents per
registered voter of the city as of the day after the date set
by state law for the purging of registration records of the
election year. This limit shall be adjusted based on changes
in the Consumer Price Index (all items) of the U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, for the
statistical area which includes the city, in an amount equal
to the percentage change for the preceding two years.
(2) Agrees to contribute to his or her campaign no more than
twenty percent of the expenditure limit from his or her own
personal wealth;
(3) Agrees to return at least fifty percent of any unexpended
funds to the city, but not more than the matching funds
received, and
(4) Agrees to treat any carryover funds from a previous
campaign as funds from the candidate's personal wealth,
subject to the limits of such funds.
5. INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES
(a) Any person, as defined in the B.R.C., 1981, making an independent
expenditure in excess of two hundred dollars shall deliver notice in
writing of such independent expenditure, as well as the amount of
such expenditure, and a detailed description of the use of such
independent expenditure, within twenty-four hours after obligating
funds for such expenditure. Such notice shall be delivered to all
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 15
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
candidates in the affected race and to the city clerk. The notice
shall specifically state the name of the candidate or candidates
whom the independent expenditure is intended to support or
oppose. Each independent expenditure shall require delivery of a
new notice.
(b) Any person making an independent expenditure in excess of two
hundred dollars shall disclose in the political message produced by
the expenditure, the full name of the person, the name of the
registered agent, the amount of the expenditure, and the specific
statement that the advertisement or material is not authorized by
any candidate. Such disclosure shall be prominently featured in the
potential message.
(c) Expenditures by any person on behalf of a candidate for public
office that are coordinated with or controlled by the candidate or
the candidate's agent shall be considered a contribution to the
candidate and subject the candidate and the contributor to any
applicable penalties contained in this ordinance.
(d) "Independent expenditure" means payment of money by any
person for the purpose of advocating the election or defeat of a
candidate, which expenditure is not controlled by, coordinated
with, or made upon consultation with any candidate or any agent
of such candidate. "Independent expenditure" includes
expenditures for political messages which unambiguously refer to
any specific public office or candidate for such office, but does not
include expenditures made by persons, other than political parties
and political committees, in the regular course and scope of their
business, including political messages sent solely to members.
6. ENFORCEMENT
(a) The city council is empowered to create an advisory committee
and other enforcement procedures as it deems appropriate to
implement this ordinance.
(b) The city attorney shall enforce all provisions of this ordinance.
(c) Any registered elector of the city may bring a civil action including
without limitation an action for injury, and may sue for injunctive
relief to enjoin violations or to compel compliance with this
ordinance consistent with (d), below, provided such person first files
with the city attorney a written request for the city attorney to
commence action. The request shall include a statement of grounds
for believing a cause of action exists. The city attorney shall respond
within ten days after receipt of the request indicating whether the
city attorney intends to file a civil action. If the city attorney
indicates in the affirmative and files suit within thirty days thereafter,
no other civil action for the same violation may be brought unless
the action brought by the city attorney is dismissed without
prejudice.
(d) Any candidate or candidate committee who knowingly accepts a
contribution in excess of one hundred dollars or exceeds the
expenditure limit in violation of the contract with the city and this
ordinance is liable in a civil action initiated by the city attorney or by
a registered elector of the city for an amount up to five hundred
dollars or three times the amount by which the contribution or
expenditure limit is exceeded, whichever is greater.
(e) In determining the amount of liability, the court may take into
account the seriousness of the violation and the culpability of the
defendant.
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7. ADOPTION. No later than ninety calendar days after the adoption of
this ordinance, the city council shall, by ordinance, incorporate the provisions
of this measure in Title 13, B.R.C., 1981, and make any and all necessary
conforming changes to said title in order to carry out the provisions of this
measure and, specifically, including the enforcement and penalty provisions.
8. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional in a court of
competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and
independent provision and shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions thereof."
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 17
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
CFR Election Parameters for 2009 General Municipal Election
The following parameters are developed according to rules provided in the CFR Initiative. They are used
to determine the amount of matching funds available to qualifying candidates in any given election, as
well as to establish specific criteria that candidates must meet to qualify for matching funds.
Registered Electors:......... 81,015 Per Boulder County official voter list as of January 28, 2009
Per-voter Base: $0.150 Original per-voter amount specified in 1999 initiative
Inflator 1 2.9% 1999 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 2: 4.0% 2000 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 3: 4.7% 2001 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 4: 1.9% 2002 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 5: 1.1% 2003 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 6: 0.1% 2004 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 7: 2.1% 2005 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 8: 3.6% 2006 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 9: 2.2% 2007 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflator 10: 3.9% 2008 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate
Inflated Per-voter Base:... $0.195 (Per-voter base) x (1 + Inflator 1) x (1 + Inflator 2) x
(1 + Inflator 3) x (1 + Inflator 4)
Expenditure Limit = $15,771 (Inflated Per-voter base) x (Registered Electors)
Minimum Fundraising Amount to Qualify for Matching Funds= $1,577 (10% of Expenditure Limit)
Personal Contribution Limit for Candidates Receiving Matching Funds = $3,154 (20% of
Expenditure Limit)
Maximum Matching Funds = $7,886 (50% of Expenditure Limit)
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 18
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES
Organizing an Unofficial Candidate Committee
No more than three days after an unofficial candidate committee receives a contribution or obligates itself
for an expenditure, it must file an Unofficial Candidate Committee Statement of Organization Form 13-
2-6). Acceptance of this form by the City Clerk recognizes the committee.
Following the processing of this form by the City Clerk's Office, the committee will be sent a
Confirmation of Committee Organization. This document will assign a unique identification number,
which will be used by the committee on all subsequent filings. The committee may use this document
whenever verification is needed. For example, it can be used at a bank to open a checking account for the
committee's campaign.
The Unofficial Candidate Committee Statement of Organization (Form 13-2-6) asks for the names and
addresses of committee officers (treasurer, chairperson, etc.) It is important in selecting these officers to
consider the skills needed to perform the various roles. It is especially important to have someone with an
bookkeeping background as the treasurer. Accurate record-keeping and thorough financial controls are
essential from day one of the campaign. The City Clerk has the right to request and audit the records of
any campaign at any time. Decisions on the committee treasurer and the record-keeping system should be
made with this accountability requirement in mind. (See the "Tips for Running a Campaign" section of
this document for additional suggestions.)
Establishing a Campaign Bank Account
The following information is offered as a general guideline. Please consult your bank, the IRS or your tax
attorney for definitive advice on tax-related matters.
In order to open a bank account as a political organization, your unofficial candidate committee will need
to have a tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service. This number, called an Employer
Identification Number (EIN), can be obtained by completing IRS Form SS-4 and calling the IRS at 1-800-
829-4933 or applying online. The IRS will assign your EIN over the phone. You will then need to fax or
mail the completed SS-4 to the IRS. The bank will require the EIN number to open your campaign
account.
When you establish your bank account as an itnofficial candidate committee, you automatically become
an IRS §527 Political Organization. If your campaign anticipates receiving more than $25,000 in
campaign contributions within an annual period, you also must file IRS Form 8871 (both electronically
and physically) within 24 hours of opening your bank account. If you anticipate receiving less than
$25,000 in contributions, you do not need to file this form. (If, at a later point, you collect more than
$25,000 of contributions, you must then file it.) Consult the IRS for more information.
Expenditure Limits
Expenditure limits apply only to City Council candidates receiving public matching funds. As a
condition of receiving matching funds, a candidate must agree to limit his./her expenditures to a
predefined expenditure limit. In the 2009 General Municipal Election the expenditure limit is $15,771.
Expenditures by the candidate and by the o rcial candidate committee apply toward this expenditure
limit. It is important to note that any expenditures by other parties, if they are coordinated in any way
with the candidate, the official candidate committee or any agent of the candidate, also apply toward the
candidate's expenditure limit.
Filing Requirements
UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES PAGE 19
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Unofficial candidate committees are required to file certain forms on specified dates, whether or not
contributions have been collected or expenditures made. Additionally, in order to conform to Boulder
ordinances (section 13-2-9(d), BRC, 1981) unofficial candidate committees are required to file the
Unofficial Candidate Committee Contributions & Expenditures Statement (Form 13-2-9) whenever the
committee makes an expenditure greater than $200.00. (See the "Independent Expenditures" section of
this document for more information and filing schedule.)
Required Forms
Unofficial candidate committees must use forms provided by the City to meet the reporting requirements
described in this document.
When submitting required reports, if not otherwise stated on the form, information must be current and
accurate at least as of 5:00 p.m. on the second calendar day before the filing date. For example, if a report
is due on October 13, 2009, the information in the report must be complete and accurate at least as of 5:00
p.m. on October 11, 2009.
Dues Dates for Independent Expenditures
Due dates for reporting of independent expenditures greater than $200 are provided in the "Independent
Expenditures" section of this document.
Changes to Information Submitted
If previously submitted information changes, such as a change of an officer of a committee, you must re-
file the infonnation within three days of the change.
If you find an error in information that has been submitted to the City, please contact the CFR Program
Administrator in the City Clerk's Office for directions on how to document and correct the erroneous
information. This should be done as soon as possible, but no more than three days after finding the error.
If a committee is notified by the City of an unmet reporting requirement, incorrect information or
incomplete infonnation, the committee must provide the required information within 72 hours of
notification.
Unexpended Campaign Contributions
At the end of the campaign, any unexpended contributions must be either donated to a charitable
organization (recognized under the Internal Revenue Code, §501(c)(3)) or returned to the contributor.
UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES PAGE 20
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Unofficial Candidate Committees
Form Form Title Due Dates for Unofficial Candidate Committees
No.
Unofficial Candidate No more than 3 days after the cormnittee receives a contribution or
13-2-6 Committee Statement of obligates itself for an expenditure
Organisation
Five (5) Required Filings plus filings for any independent
expenditures (See "hidependent Expenditures" section for more
info.)
1. No more than 3 days after the coni nittee receives
Unofficial Candidate a contribution or obligates itself for an expenditure
13-2-9 Committee Contributions &
Expenditures Statement 2. October 6, 2009
3. October 20, 2009
4. October 29, 2009
5. No later than 30 days after election (December 3)
Unofficial Candidate October 29, 2009
13-2-9(c) Committee Anticipated The information on this form has been rolled into the new electronic
Contributions & Expenditures web filing on the contributions & expenditures statement. A separate
Statement font is no longer necessary to be filed.
No later than 30 days after election (December 3)
Unofficial Candidate No later than 60 days after election (January 6, 2010) if unexpended
13-2-9(e) Committee Final funds remained in last report.
Contributions & Expenditures
Statement The information on this form has been rolled into the new electronic
web filing on the contributions & expenditures statement. A separate
form is no longer necessary to be filed.
UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES PAGE 21
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
ISSUE COMMITTEES
Organizing an Issue Committee
No more than three days after an issue committee receives a contribution or obligates itself for an
expenditure, it must file an Issue Committee Statement of Organization (Form 13-2-7). Acceptance of
this form by the City Clerk recognizes the committee.
Following the processing of this form by the City Clerk's Office, the committee will be sent a
Confirmation of Committee Organization. This document will assign a unique identification number,
which will be used by the committee on all subsequent filings. The committee may use this document
whenever verification is needed. For example, it can be used at a bank to open a checking account for the
committee's campaign.
The Issue Committee Statement of Organization (Form 13-2-7) asks for the names and addresses of
committee officers (treasurer, chairperson, etc.) It is important in selecting these officers to consider the
skills needed to perform the various roles. It is especially important to have someone with an
bookkeeping background as the treasurer. Accurate record-keeping and thorough financial controls are
essential from day one of the campaign. The City Clerk has the right to request and audit the records of
any campaign at any time. Decisions on the committee treasurer and the record-keeping system should be
made with this accountability requirement in mind. (See the "Tips for Running a Campaign" section of
this document for additional suggestions.)
Establishing a Campaign Bank Account
The following information is offered as a general guideline. Please consult your bank, the IRS or your tax
attorney for definitive advice on tax-related matters.
In order to open a bank account as a political organization, your committee will need a tax identification
number from the Internal Revenue Service. This number, called an Employer Identification Number
(EIN), can be obtained by completing IRS Form SS-4 and calling the IRS at 1-800-829-4933 or applying
online. The IRS will assign your EIN over the phone. You will then need to fax or mail the completed
SS-4 to the IRS. The bank will require the EIN number to open your campaign account.
When you establish your bank account as an issue committee, you automatically become an IRS §527
Political Organization. If your campaign anticipates receiving more than $25,000 in campaign
contributions within an annual period, you also must file IRS Form 8871 (both electronically and
physically) within 24 hours of opening your bank account. If you anticipate receiving less than $25,000
in contributions, you do not need to file this form. (If, at a later point, you collect more than $25,000 of
contributions, you must then file it.) Consult the IRS for more information.
Expenditure Limits
Expenditure limits apply only to City Council candidates receiving public matching funds.
Note: Issue committees cannot make expenditures in support of or in
opposition to a candidate for City Council. The some group of
people involved in the issue committee may form an unofficial
candidate committee to support or oppose a candidate.
Filing Requirements
Issue committees are required to file certain forms on specified dates, whether or not contributions have
been collected or expenditures made.
ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 22
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Required Forms
Issite committees must use forms provided by the City to meet the reporting requirements described in
this document.
When submitting required reports, if not otherwise stated on the form, information must be current and
accurate at least as of 5:00 p.m. on the second calendar day before the filing date. For example, if a report
is due on October 13, 2009, the information in the report must be complete and accurate at least as of 5:00
p.m. on October 11, 2009.
Changes to Information Submitted
If previously submitted information changes, such as a change of an officer of a connnittee, you must re-
file the infornation within three days of the change.
If you find an error in information that has been submitted to the City, please contact the CFR Program
Administrator in the City Clerk's Office for directions on how to document and correct the erroneous
information. This should be done as soon as possible, but no more than three days after finding the error.
If a coinmittee is notified by the City of an unmet reporting requirement, incorrect information or
incomplete information, the cominittee must provide the required information within 72 hours of
notification.
Unexpended Campaign Contributions
At the end of the campaign, any unexpended contributions must be either donated a charitable
organization (recognized under the Internal Revenue Code, §501(c)(3)) or returned to the contributor.
ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 23
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Issue Committees
Form Form Title Due Dates for Issue Committees
No.
No more than 3 days after the committee receives a contribution or
13-2-7 Issue Committee obligates itself for an expenditure, or three days after ballot
Statement of OrganiYation certification if the committee has accepted contributions or made
expenditures in anticipation of ballot proposition certification
Five (5) Required Filings
1.3 days after the connnittee receives a contribution or obligates
itself for an expenditure, or three days after ballot certification if
the conunittee has accepted contributions or made expenditures
Issue Committee in anticipation of ballot proposition certification
13-2-11 Contributions & Expenditures
Statement 2. October 6, 2009
3. October 20, 2009
4. October 29, 2009
5. No later than 30 days after election (December 3)
Issue Committee October 29, 2009
13-2-11(c) Anticipated The information on this form has been rolled into the new electronic
Contributions & Expenditures web filing on the contributions & expenditures statement. A separate
Statement form is no longer necessary to be filed.
No later than 30 days after election (December 3)
Issue Conmittee No later than 60 days after election (January 6, 2010) if unexpended
13-2-11(d) Final funds remained in last report.
Contributions & Expenditures
Statement The information on this form has been rolled into the new electronic
web filing on the contributions & expenditures statement. A separate
form is no longer necessary to be filed.
ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 24
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
POLITICAL COMMITTEES
Organizing a Political Committee
No more than three days after a political committee receives a contribution or makes an expenditure in
support of or opposition to a candidate for City Council or a city ballot proposition, it must file with the
City Clerk:
• A full and correct copy of the committee's registration statement as filed with the Secretary of
State pursuant to subsection 1-45-108(3) C.R.S., and
• The most recent report or other disclosure which it has filed with the Secretary of State or any
Country Clerk and Recorder
Expenditure Limits
Expenditure limits apply only to City Council candidates receiving public matching funds.
Expenditures by the candidate and by the official candidate committee apply toward this expenditure
limit. It is important to note that any expenditures by other parties, if they are coordinated in any way
with the candidate, the official candidate committee or any agent of the candidate, also apply toward the
candidate's expenditure limit.
Filing Requirements
Political committees must meet the requirements of the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act. In
addition, political committees are required to file with the City Clerk:
• Full and correct copies of every disclosure or report on the same day it files such a document with
either the Secretary of State or the Country Clerk and Recorder, and
Note: As of this writing, the state requires political committees to file on the
21St day before the election (October 13), the Friday before the
election (October 30), and the 30th day following the election
(December 3). For more information regarding the Colorado Fair
Campaign Practices Act, contact the Boulder County Elections
Division, at 303.413.7747.
• Expenditure report(s) segregating, as far as possible, expenditures greater than $200 made on the
city election. Expenditure(s) made in support or opposition of a City Council candidate or in
support or opposition of a ballot initiative are filed on Political Committee Expenditures
Statement (Form 13-2-120)).
POLITICAL COMMITTEES PAGE 25
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES GREATER THAN $200
Every independent expenditure in excess of $200.00 must be reported to the City Clerk's Office.
Individuals
Individuals who make an independent expenditure of greater than $200 should report to the City Clerk
using the Independent Expenditure Statement (Form 13-2-10).
Note: If two or more natural persons jointly make an independent
expenditure of any amount, by definition they become an unofficial
candidate committee and must meet all the filing requirements for
unofficial candidate committees. This is also true for a corporation,
a partnership, etc.)
Unofficial Candidate Committees and Political Committees
Unofficial candidate committees that make an independent expenditure greater than $200 should report
using the Unofficial Candidate Contributions & Expenditures Statement (Form 13-2-9).
Political committees that make an independent expenditure greater than $200 should report using the
Political Committee Expenditures Statement (Form 13-2-120)).
Each independent expenditure in excess of $200 must be listed and described individually on the report.
No expenditure should be reported more than once.
Due Dates for Independent Expenditures
The due dates for reporting are dependent on the date(s) of the expenditure(s):
Independent Expenditures Made Before 5:00 p.m. on October 13, 2009
• If an independent expenditure exceeding $200 is made before 5:00 p.m. on October 13, 2009
must be reported within three business days of obligating the funds or on October 13, whichever
is sooner.
• If additional independent expenditures exceeding $200 are made within this same time period
each must be reported as individual line items on a report submitted on October 13, 2009.
• All expenditures must be reported, but no expenditure should be reported more than once.
Independent Expenditures Made After 5:00 p.m. on October 13 and Before 7:00
a.m. on November 2
• Any independent expenditure exceeding $200 made between October 13 and November 2 at 7:00
a.m. (24 hours before the election) must be reported within 24 hours of obligating the funds.
Independent Expenditures Made On Day Before or Day of Election
• Any independent expendituu•e exceeding $200 made on November 2 after 7:00 a.m. or on
November 3 (day before and day of election), must be reported on or before December 3, 2009
(the 30`x' day after the election).
Note: If a report falls due on a weekend or holiday, it must be submitted
on the next business day. It is also important to note that an entity,
other than a single natural person, is by definition a committee, and
is subject to the applicable reporting requirements for an unofficial
candidate committee or a political committee.
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES GREATER THAN $200 PAGE 26
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Disclosure Requirements
Anyone (individual, corporation, committee, etc.) making an independent expenditure in excess of
$200.00 for the composition, presentation or distribution of posters, advertisements, leaflets, brochures,
letters, postcards, records or tapes that expressly oppose or support a candidate or candidates, must
include the name of the person who paid for the material or ad in the content of the material or ad. The
usual wording is "Paid for by (name)."
The purpose of this requirement is to allow interested citizens to know who is financing activities to
support or oppose the election of a candidate or candidates.
Record Keeping & Accountability
It is important to keep in mind that expenditures made on behalf of a candidate are not independent if
they are coordinated in any way with the candidate, the official candidate committee or any agent of the
candidate. In these cases the expenditures are treated as expenditures by the candidate and apply toward
the candidate's expenditure limit if the candidate is receiving matching fnds.
Individuals and committees that make independent expenditures in support of any candidate who has
received public funding are required to keep detailed records of the time, place and general subject matter
of all consultations about the substance, venue, and timing of the expenditure. The City Manager or the
Manager's representative is authorized to review these records at any time if there is a reasonable
suspicion that expenditures were controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon consultation with a
candidate, candidate committee or agent of a candidatelcommittee.
INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES GREATER THAN $200 PAGE 27
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS
Limits on Contributions for Unofficial Candidate Committees
Unofficial candidate committees may be organized to support or oppose candidates for City Council.
These committees must be totally independent of the candidate(s) whom they support or oppose and of
the official candidate committee(s).
No unofficial candidate committee may solicit or accept any contribution, including in-kind contributions,
which will cause the total contributions from any person to exceed $100 for a single election. If a
contribution is received that would bring the aggregate total from an individual contributor to greater than
$100, the amount that exceeds $100 must be promptly returned to the contributor.
Since unofficial candidate committees are totally independent of any candidate or official candidate
committee, an individual contributor may contribute $100 to a candidate/official candidate committee and
another $100 to an unofficial candidate committee supporting the same candidate.
It is important to keep in mind that whoever signs a contribution check is considered the contributor, even
if the check is written on a joint bank account.
Anonymous Contributions
Candidates, official candidate committees and unofficial candidate committees are not allowed to retain
or expend any anonymous contributions. (This restriction also applies to political parties insofar as it is
possible to know that the contribution was intended to support the election or defeat of a candidate for
City Council.) If anonymous contributions are received, they must be disposed of as follows:
Candidates Not Receiving Matchina_ Funds, Their Candidate Committees &
Unofficial Candidate Committees
Anonymous contributions to any of these individuals/groups may be donated to the City or to any
charitable organization certified under the Internal Revenue Code, §501(c)(3). Distribution of these funds
should be reported on the next required Statement of Contributions & Expenditures report. You must
include a receipt from the charitable organization and/or the City to be kept as part of your campaign
records.
If an anonymous contribution is donated to a charitable organization, the candidate or committee must
keep on file the following information/materials for at least six months after the election: the envelope or
other container in which the contribution arrived, any other material that arrived with the contribution, a
photocopy of the contribution itself (showing only the amount and serial number of any bills). This
information must be made available to the City Manager or her representative upon request.
Issue Committees & Political Committees
Issue committees and political committees are allowed to retain and make expenditures with anonymous
contributions. However, if an issue committee receives any anonymous contributions the treasurer must
keep on file the following information/materials for at least six months after the election: the envelope or
other container in which the contribution arrived, any other material that arrived with the contribution, a
photocopy of the contribution itself (showing only the amount and serial number of any bills). This
information must be made available to the City Manager or her designate upon request.
LIMITs ON CONTRIBUTIONS PAGE 28
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Contributions from City Contractors
Anyone who is negotiating with the City or is under contract with the City to provide personal services,
materials, supplies, equipment or for selling land or a building to the City is prohibited from making a
contribution to a candidate, committee or to any person for any political purpose or use in a City election
if the payment for the services, supplies, etc. is even partially appropriated by City Council. Contractors
are also prohibited from promising to make such a contribution or to knowingly solicit such a
contribution for someone else. (B.R.C. 13-3-4)
LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS PAGE 29
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
DISCLOSURE AND ATTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS
Election Materials & Advertising
Anyone who composes, presents, or distributes posters, advertisements, leaflets, brochures, letters,
postcards, records, or tapes that expressly support or oppose a candidate or candidates for City Council,
must include the name of the person who financed the composition, presentation, or distribution in the
content of the materials. The usual wording is "Paid for by (name)."
Solicitation for Candidate Campaign Funds
Any type of general public political advertising (through a broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine,
outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing, web sites, emails, etc.) that is done to solicit contribrttions to
finance communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly defined candidate:
• Must identify who paid for the advertising.
• Must identify whether or not the advertisement is authorized by the candidate, the candidate's
committee or its agents.
• Must include the following notice on the face or front page of all literature and advertisements:
"A copy of our report is filed with the City Clerk of the City of Boulder, Colorado."
DISCLOSURE AND ATTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS PAGE 30
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
Restrictions on Increased Fees for Municipal Election Advertising
City Code states that candidates and committees cannot be charged more for space in newspapers or
magazines to be used in connection with a municipal election, than would be charged for the comparable
use of the space for other purposes. (B.R.C. 13-3-2)
Restrictions on Contributions in Another's Name
Potential contributors are prohibited from making a contribution in someone else's name. Candidates
and committees are prohibited from knowingly accepting a contribution from one person in the name of
another person. (B.R.C. 13-3-4)
Restrictions on Contributions by City Contractors
Anyone who is negotiating with the City or is under contract with the City to provide personal services,
materials, supplies, equipment or for selling land or a building to the City is prohibited from making a
contribution to a candidate, committee or to any p emon for any political purpose or use in a City election
if the payment for the services, supplies, etc. is even partially appropriated by City Council. Contractors
also are prohibited from promising to make such a contribution or to knowingly solicit such a
contribution for someone else. (B.R.C. 13-3-3)
Restrictions on Representation of Campaign Authority
Candidates, political committees and their agents are prohibited from making any fraudulent
misrepresentations or acting for or on behalf of another candidate or committee on a matter that is
damaging to the other candidate or committee. Knowingly participating in or conspiring in a plan to do
so also is prohibited. (B.R.C. 13-3-6)
RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES PAGE 31
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
VIOLATIONS & FILING COMPLAINTS
Criminal Acts & Penalties
The following acts are prohibited by Chapter 13-2-22, B.RC. 1981:
• Filing required statements that knowingly contain false information.
• Failing to file a required statement within 72 hours of being notified by the City.
• Failing to provide required information necessary to complete a required statement within 72
hours of being notified by the City.
• Knowingly misstating or misrepresenting the name of a person who financed the composition,
presentation or distribution of information to solicit contributions to support or oppose a council
candidate.
• Failing to comply with any of the other requirements of Chapters 13-2 and 13-3, B.R.C. 1981.
Any person convicted of a violation of any of the above is subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000.
Civil Remedies
Remedies related to violations of the Campaign Finance Reform Initiative are provided for in Chapter 13-
2-22 (b), B.R.C. 1981. Major provisions are:
• Any unofficial candidate committee that knowingly accepts a contribution in excess of $100.00 is
liable in a civil action initiated by the City Attorney or by a registered elector of the City for an
amount up to $500.00 or three times the amount by which the contribution is exceeded,
whichever is greater.
• Any registered elector of the City of Boulder who believes there has been a violation of the CFR
Initiative may bring a civil action and may sue for injunctive relief to prohibit violations or to
require compliance with the ordinance. However, as a first step, a written complaint must be sent
to the City Clerk's Office, requesting the City Clerk to commence action against those believed to
be in violation. The request must include a statement of the grounds for believing there has been
a violation.
• The City Clerk's Office will respond to the person filing the complaint within 10 days after
receiving the complaint. The response will indicate if the City Clerk intends to file a civil action.
If the City Clerk indicates in the affirmative and files suit within 30 days thereafter, no other civil
action for the same violation may be brought unless the action brought by the City Clerk is
dismissed without prejudice.
VIOLATIONS & FILING COMPLAINTS PAGE 32
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
The following are answers to questions asked frequently about various aspects of the Campaign Finance
Reform Initiative passed by City of Boulder electors in 1999. It may also be helpful to refer to the Key
Definitions section.
Official Candidate Committees vs. Unofficial Candidate Committees
1. What is the difference between a candidate committee and an unofficial candidate
committee?
A candidate committee is the official candidate committee, organized at the same time candidacy
is established, to support the candidate in her or his campaign for City Council. For most
reporting requirements, the candidate and the official candidate committee are considered a single
entity. If a candidate is receiving matching funds, expenditures by either the candidate or the
candidate committee apply toward the candidate's expenditrtre limit. The candidate and her/his
candidate committee, together, may accept no more than $100 in contributions from any
individual contributor.
An unofficial candidate committee is a committee established to either support or oppose one or
more candidates and it operates totally independently of any candidate, candidate committee or
agent of a candidate. Unofficial candidate committees also are limited to $100 from any
individual contributor.
2. If an unofficial candidate committee pays for ads supporting Candidate A, do those ads
count against Candidate A's expenditure limit?
First, Candidate A has an expenditure limit only if s/he has agreed to the expenditure limit as a
condition of receiving public matching funds. Assuming that Candidate A has agreed to an
expenditure limit and the candidate%andidate committee has no knowledge, influence, or control
over the expenditure, then it does not count against Candidate A's expenditure limit. However,
the expenditure for ads does apply toward the candidate's expenditure limit if there is any type of
coordination or collaboration between the unofficial candidate committee and Candidate A,
Candidate A's official candidate committee or any agent of Candidate A.
Any time there is coordination or collaboration between an unofficial candidate committee and a
candidate%fcial candidate committee, the unofficial committee ceases to exist and becomes part
of the official candidate committee. This is true even if the candidate is not receiving public
funds. This is important because any contributions that the unofficial committee has received are
then considered received by the candidate, which could cause the $100 limit per contributor to be
exceeded.
3. Does an unofficial candidate committee have an expenditure limit?
No. Expenditure limits only apply to candidates (and by extension to their official candidate
committees) who have agreed to the limit as a condition of receiving public matching funds.
Unofficial candidate committees cannot apply for matching funds.
4. On occasion, in past campaigns, candidates have had their volunteers work together with
other campaigns to do joint literature drops (i.e., volunteers from two or more candidate
campaigns divide up neighborhoods and drop off campaign literature for each of the
participating candidates). Is this still allowed?
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Yes, since what is involved is volunteer time (not the cost of producing the campaign literature),
joint literature drops are allowed. (The cost of producing the campaign literature is an
expenditure of each individual committee.)
Contributions
5. Exactly when does a contribution occur?
A contribution occurs when the contribution is received and accepted or when there is a
contractual agreement and the amount is determined. It is important to remember that a
maximum of $100 in contributions may be accepted from any individual donor (contributor). If
your campaign receives a contribution that would take you over this limit, you must promptly
return the amount in excess of $100 and forward a copy of the contribution check and the
reimbursement check to the CFR Administrator. Whoever signs a contribution check is
considered the contributor, even if the check is written on a joint bank account.
It is also important to remember that for reporting purposes (on the Contributions & Expenditin°es
Statement), a contribution check is reported received on the date you get the check, not on the
date you deposit it to the bank.
6. What are the limitations on contributions to committees?
The answer to this question depends on the type of committee. An official candidate committee,
together with the candidate, is limited to no more than $100 in contributions from any individual
contributor. This includes the value of in-kind contributions. An rmoLicial candidate committee,
established and operating independently of the candidate(s) whom the committee supports or
opposes, has the same limitation of $100 from any individual contributor.
There are no limitations on contributions to issue committees and to political committees.
7. How do I distinguish between in-kind contributions and normal volunteer services?
First, review the definition of in-k-ind contribution in the Definitions Section of this document.
Perhaps the easiest way to distinguish the two is to think of an in-kind contribution as a "hard"
contribution - i.e., there is something concrete donated (a gift or loan of real or personal property,
other than money, or the purchase of personal services), and to think of volunteer services as a
"soft" contribution (the donation of a person's time).
Examples of in-bind contributions include:
• The use of office space at no charge, for which there normally is a fee.
• The donation of food for a campaign rally.
• The donation of paper to be used for campaign brochures.
To determine the value of an in-k-ind contribution, determine its reasonable fair market value.
Examples of volunteer services include:
• Someone volunteering time to distribute campaign literature.
• Someone volunteering time to make phone calls.
• Someone volunteering time to prepare and serve food at a campaign event.
• Someone volunteering time to create a database of campaign information.
The volunteer services consist of donated, uncompensated time to do the work of the campaign.
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
The fact that a volunteer is creating something of value, such as the database, does not make it an
in-bind contribution, although these types of situations can be the most confusing. Perhaps the
following example will help:
If Mary Jones volunteers her time to create a database, it is considered volunteer work
and is not reported. If Mary Jones pays for someone else to create a database, it is an in-
kind contribution, and is reported.
Normally, if someone pays to have services provided to a candidate or committee, those services
are considered to be an in-kind contribution. However, there are two important exceptions to this
guideline that have been upheld by the courts. Certain types of purchased legal and accounting
services are not considered in-kind contributions if they meet the following criteria:
• The person paying for the services is the regular employer of the individual providing the
services;
• The services provided are either legal services or accounting services;
• The services are solely for the purpose of helping the candidate/committee comply with
election laws.
8. Can my campaign committee and volunteers have a pot-luck dinner or is the food that
people prepare considered an in-kind contribution to the campaign?
If everyone is asked to bring food to share with everyone else, the food is not considered an in-
kind contribution. However, if only a select few are providing the food for the group, then the
food would be considered an in-kind contribution.
9. Is an endorsement of a candidate treated as a contribution?
Making an endorsement of a candidate, or solicitation of an endorsement by a candidate, is not
per se regulated by City ordinance and is not treated as a contribution. But the expenditures for
publishing endorsements, and any contributions other than the actual endorsement, are regulated.
Expenditures
10. Exactly when do expenditures occur?
An expenditure occurs when the actual payment is made or when a contract is agreed upon,
whichever comes first. In particular, this means do not wait for your charge card statement before
disclosing an expense.
11. What is an independent expenditure and what do I have to do if I make an independent
expenditure?
The definition of an independent expenditure is "an expenditure by any person for the purpose of
expressly advocating the election or defeat of a candidate or candidates, which expenditure is not
controlled by, coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate, candidate
committee, or any agent of such candidate or candidate committee." In this context a person can
be an individual, a corporation, a committee, etc. - any entity other than the candidate or
candidate committee.
If the independent expenditure is for $200.00 or less, no additional reporting to the City is
required. However, if any single independent expenditure is for more than $200.00, it must be
reported to the City Clerk's Office. An individual makes this report using the Independent
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Expenditure Statement (Form 13-2-10). Committees use the appropriate Contributions &
Expenditures form.
Remember that if two or more individuals get together to make an independent expenditure, by
definition, they become an unofficial candidate committee, together with corporations or any
other groups that make independent expenditures. Unofficial candidate committees must file an
Unofficial Candidate Committee Statement of Organization (Form 13-2-9) with the City Clerk's
Office and meet all other reporting requirements for an unofficial candidate committee.
The timing of when you must report depends on when the independent expenditure is made. See
the "Independent Expenditures Greater Than $200" section of this document for more
information on filing deadlines and disclosure requirements.
It is important to keep in mind that expenditures made on behalf of a candidate are not
independent if they are coordinated in any way with the candidate, the official candidate
committee or any agent of the candidate. In these cases the expenditures are treated as
expenditures by the candidate and apply toward the candidate's expenditure limit if the candidate
is receiving matching funds.
Individuals and committees that make independent expenditures in support of a candidate who
has received public funding are required to keep detailed records of the time, place, and general
subject matter of all consultations about the substance, venue, and timing of the expenditure.
The City Manager or the Manager's representative is authorized to review these records at any
time if there is a reasonable suspicion that expenditures were controlled by, coordinated with, or
made upon consultation with a candidate, candidate committee, or agent of a
candidate/committee.
Reporting by Committees
12. Does a committee reporting an independent expenditure still have to file the Contributions
& Expenditures Statement?
Yes. An independent expenditure tiling does not relieve a committee from filing the required
Contributions & Expendintres Statements. Please note that each committee must file all required
Contributions & Expenditures Statements, even if your committee has not received any
contributions, made any expenditures, or obligated itself to make any expenditures.
Violations & Complaints
13. What if someone doesn't follow the election laws/rules or adhere to the terms of the contract
for matching funds?
There are serious penalties for anyone found to be in violation of the election laws or the terms of
the contract with the City. For example:
• Any person convicted of a violation of Chapters 13-2 and 1-3, B.R.C. 1981 is subject to a
fine not to exceed $1,000.
• Any candidate or official candidate committee that knowingly accepts a contribution in
excess of $100.00 or exceeds the expenditure limit of $15,771 in violation of the contract
with the City and this ordinance, is liable in a civil action initiated by the City Attorney or
by a registered elector of the City for an amount up to $500.00 or three times the amount
by which the contribution or expenditure limit is exceeded, whichever is greater. (See the
Violations & Filing Complaints section of this document and the Matching Funds
Contract (Form 13-2-21(b).)
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
• Any unofficial candidate committee that knowingly accepts a contribution in excess of
$100.00 in violation of this ordinance is liable in a civil action initiated by the City
Attorney or by a registered elector of the City for an amount up to $500.00 or three tunes
the amount by which the contribution is exceeded, whichever is greater. (See the
Violations & Filing Complaints section of this document.
• In the case of a substantial violation of the $15,771 campaign expenditure limit, the City
reserves the right to rescind the Matching Funds Contract and recover all funds paid to
the candidate as matching funds. (Seethe Matching Funds Contract (Form 13-2-21(b).)
14. How do I file a complaint if I think someone is cheating on matching funds or contribution
limits?
Any registered elector of the City of Boulder who believes there has been a violation of the CFR
Initiative may bring a civil action and may sue for injunctive relief to prohibit violations or to
require compliance with the ordinance.
As a first step, a written complaint must be sent to the City Clerk's Office, requesting the City
Clerk to commence action against those believed to be in violation. The request must include a
statement of the grounds for believing there has been a violation. (See the "Violations & Filing
Complaints" section of this document for more information.)
Getting Help
15. Who do I contact if I have questions?
Contact the CFR Program Administrator in the City Clerk's Office. (See the "General
Inforination" section of this document for more information.)
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
TIPS FOR RUNNING A CAMPAIGN
Running an effective campaign takes a good deal of planning and hard work. To snake the task a little
easier, the following tips have been gathered from former candidates, committee members and City
officials involved in the election process. They are offered as suggestions. Feel free to use whatever you
think will be helpful.
Setting Up Your Committee
It is important to start thinking about the skills needed to run a campaign and to identify possible
campaign committee members as early as possible.
When selecting committee officers (treasurer, chairperson, etc.), it is important to consider the skills
needed to perform the various roles and the time requirements of each role. Typical roles include
campaign chairperson, co-chairperson, and treasurer.
Role of the Treasurer
It is especially important to have someone with a bookkeeping background as the treasurer of the
committee. Accurate record keeping and thorough financial controls are essential from the first day of the
campaign. If there are any questions as to the completeness or accuracy of the information reported by
your campaign, the City Clerk has the right to request additional information. If a complaint is filed
concerning your campaign, the City clerk's Office will conduct an investigation and may request detailed
campaign records. Decisions on the committee treasurer and the record-keeping system should be made
with this accountability requirement in mind.
The treasurer role also requires a great deal of time, as the treasurer is the primary record-keeper and the
primary person responsible for filing required reports. All reports will be filed electronically online. Be
sure that the candidate and/or treasurer is available on all mandatory filing dates.
Establishing a Committee Bank Account
The following information is offered as a general guideline. Please consult your bank, the IRS, or your
tax attorney for definitive advice on tax-related matters.
In order to open a bank account as a political organization, your committee will need a tax identification
number from the Internal Revenue Service. This number, called an Employer Identification Number
(EIN), can be obtained by completing IRS Form SS-4 and calling the IRS at 1-800-829-4933. The IRS
will assign your EIN over the phone. You will then need to fax or mail the completed SS-4 to the IRS.
The bank will require the EIN number to open your campaign account.
When you establish your bank account as a committee, you automatically become an IRS §527 Political
Organization. If your campaign anticipates receiving more than $25,000 in campaign contributions
within an annual period, you also must file IRS Form 8871 (both electronically and physically) within 24
hours of opening your bank account. If you anticipate receiving less than $25,000 in contributions, you
do not need to file this form. (If, at a later point, you collect more than $25,000 of contributions, you
must then file it.) Consult the IRS for more information.
Record Keeping is Critical
1. Establish a system so that from day one you have complete and accurate records of all
contributions received and all expenditures made. Keeping copies of all relevant docurnents
(receipts, bank deposits, checks received, etc.) will save time later.
2. Remember that a contribution is considered received the day you actually get and accept it, not
the day you deposit the check in the bank. Expenditures occur the day you make the payment or
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
the day that there is a contractual agreement and the amount is determined, whichever is earlier.
Keep this in mind for reporting.
3. It is important to review contributions in a timely manner as they are received. Remember that
for official candidate committees and unofficial candidate committees there is a $100 limit that
can be accepted from any individual contributor and that any excess contributions must be
returned promptly. Although "promptly" is not spelled out in the CFR Initiative or in the City
Code, the Matching Funds Contract (Form 13-2-21(b)) requires that contributions in excess of
the $100 limit be returned within five days. It is reasonable to assume that this is the guideline
that will be applied to all official candidate committees and unofficial candidate committees when
determining if excess contributions have been returned promptly.
4. For expenditures, keep detailed records so that Contribution & Expenditure Statements are easy
to complete accurately and so that you can respond to inquiries that you may receive. Two
categories of expenditures that often get questioned are "Advertising" and "Printing." It is
important to report the specific purpose of expenditures, i.e., list "3 newspaper ads," not just
"advertising" or list "printing of 15,000 brochures for literature drop" not just "printing."
5. Remember that anonymous contributions cannot be retained or expended by candidates, official
candidate committees, or unofficial candidate committees. Anonymous contributions received by
these committees must be given to either the City or a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Every
anonymous contribution received must be reported individually, so it is best avoid cash bowls at
fundraising events that do not allow you to account for the amount of each contribution.
6. If you donate anonymous contributions or unexpended campaign contributions to a charitable
organization or the City, get a receipt from the organization(s). You will need to provide proof of
the disposition of these funds.
7. Committee members, other than the candidate, cannot use their personal funds, checking account
or charge cards to purchase items for the campaign that will cause the total contributed to the
campaign to exceed the $100 contribution limit (including in-kind) even if they will then be
reimbursed. At no time, can the $100 contribution limit be exceeded. Requesting a debit card
when you open the committee's bank account can help to alleviate this problem.
Disclosure & Attributions
To ensure that you have met all legal requirements for disclosure and attributions, consider automatically
putting the following statements on all signs and campaign literature:
"Paid for by (name)."
"A copy of our report is filed with the City Clerk of the City of Boulder, Colorado."
Contribution Limits for Unofficial Candidate Committees
1. When soliciting campaign contributions for unofficial candidate committees, educate potential
donors about the $100 contribution limit from any individual contributor. Checks or other
payments greater than $100 may not be accepted, so try to avoid having to return excess
contributions or having to ask that another check be written.
2. Encourage couples to donate to your committee by having each partner write a separate check
(even if the checks are written on the same account). Each partner may contribute up to $100, but
you may not accept a check written by one of the partners for $200 unless it is a joint account and
both sign the check signature line. Whichever person signed the check is considered the
contributor.
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FORM TITLES & FORM NUMBERS
Beginning in 2009, the city will be using an electronic web format for filing reports. Committees will be
issued a user name and password that will allow access to the financial forms. A few forms are still filled
in manually and are listed below. They are available on the city's election web site to be download in
pdf. form.
When completing the manual forms, please read the instructions carefully. Required information must be
typed or neatly printed. Information from these filings will be entered into a database and scanned on to
the City's web site, so if information is illegible, forms will be returned to the filing party to be
resubmitted.
Form Name Form Number
(B.R.C. Section)
Forms for all Candidates, Incumbents, and Committees
Application for Employer Identification Number (EIN) IRS Form SS-4
Request for Tax Identification Nuinber (TIN) IRS Form W-9
'\Tiolation%Com Taint Form 13-4-2
Independent Expenditure Forms
Inde )endent Expenditure Statement for natural persons 13-2-10
FORM TITLES & FORM NUMBERS PAGE 40
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13.
The following excerpts from the Boulder Revised Code, 1981, relate to election provisions:
TITLE 13. ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING DISCLOSURES
Chapter 1. Elections
13-1-1 Legislative Intent.
(a) The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for regular and
special elections of the home rule City of Boulder. Such procedures are
intended to be consistent with the Uniform Election Code of 1992 as
adopted by the State of Colorado, except as necessary to comply with
provisions of the charter or to meet a specific need of the city as
determined by the city council.
(b) The purpose of this chapter in adopting by reference Sections 1-2-228, 1-4-
913, Part 2 of Article 1-1 1, and Article 13 of Title 1, C.R.S., which form a part
of the Uniform Election Code, is to make it clear that such provisions apply
to city elections. Adoption does not create a separate municipal offense
or municipal court proceeding. Proceedings under such statutes,
including, without limitation, contests of municipal elections and criminal
prosecutions, shall be brought and heard in the district court or county
court as specified by state law, and control of the criminal prosecution of
the enumerated election offenses shall remain with the district attorney or
the attorney general of the state.
13-1-2 Incorporation of Uniform Election Code of 1992, as Amended, with
Modifications.
(a) The Uniform Election Code of 1992, 1-1-101 through 1-13-803, C.R.S., as
amended through January 1, 2001, is hereby adopted by reference and
incorporated into this code and has the some force and effect as if fully
set forth herein, except as specifically amended by the provisions of this
chapter.
(b) The council finds that certain modifications to the Uniform Election Code
of 1992, as amended, are in the best interest of the residents of the city
and therefore adopts the following modifications:
(1) Section 1-1-102, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-1-102. Applicability.
(1) This election code applies to all municipal general and special
elections of the city, including without limitation recall
elections. Except as otherwise provided in the Boulder Revised
Code, 1981, or any uncodified ordinance specific to the
situation, this election code also applies to general
improvement district elections, and to any elections required
by the Constitution of the State of Colorado for which no
specific provision is made by any law of the city.
(2) The Uniform Election Code of 1992 was adopted by the
General Assembly of the State of Colorado to cover many
elections other than municipal elections. Accordingly, many
provisions of the Uniform Election Code are inapplicable to
municipal elections. The sections and parts of sections which
appeared most clearly to be inapplicable to municipal
elections have been specifically not adopted, either by
calling them not adopted, repealed, or repealed and
reenacted to read, in adopting by reference the Uniform
BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 41
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Election Code of 1992. However, other provisions of the
Uniform Election Code of 1992 which are also inapplicable to
municipal elections have not been specifically called out as
being inapplicable. Adoption by reference of such provisions
does not mean that the city council was of the opinion that
such provisions are applicable to municipal elections, and in
such cases their applicability shall be determined by the intent
of the Colorado General Assembly.
(3) This election code is applicable both to coordinated elections
involving the participation of the county clerk and elections of
other political jurisdictions, and to municipal elections which
the city may choose to conduct on its own, as the city council
may from time to time specify in any ordinance calling a
special election or otherwise.
(4) To the extent that any provision of this election code conflicts
with the charter, such provision is inapplicable.
(2) Section 1-1-104(8), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
"Designated election official" means the city clerk.
(3) Section 1-1-104(17), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
"General election" means the election specified in Charter Section
22 to be held on the first Tuesday in November in each odd-
numbered year.
(4) Section 1-1-104(18), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
"Governing body" means the city council, including without
limitation the city council sitting as the board of directors of a
general improvement district.
(5) Section 1-1-104(34.5), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
"Referred measure" includes any ballot question or ballot issue
submitted by the city council to the qualified electors of the city
pursuant to Charter Sections 37 through 54 or Section 1-41-103,
C.R.S.
(6) Section 1-1-104(46), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
"Special election" means an election other than a general election
as specified in the charter, including without limitation Sections 22,
41, 47, and 58.
(7) Sections 1-1-104(1), (5), (6), (9), (9.5), (19), (20), (22), (23), (24), (25),
(26), (31), (32), (39), (40), (41), (42), and (45), C.R.S., are repealed.
(8) Sections 1-1-109(1) and 1-1-110(3), C.R.S., are repealed and
reenacted to read:
(1) Except as otherwise provided by this election code, the
secretary of state may provide the forms required by this
election code, which forms may be followed by county clerk
and recorders, election judges, and other election officials.
Forms concerning nominations for city council, initiative,
referendum, and recall petitions, and any other forms
governed by the charter are included among the forms which
are "otherwise provided" by this election code.
(2) As the chief election official for the county, the county clerk
and recorder shall be the chief designated election official for
all coordinated elections. If the city or its general improvement
districts request that its election be coordinated with any other
election, it shall certify the ballot content to the county clerk
BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 42
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
and recorder prior to the fifty-fifth day before the election.
Nothing in this section shall authorize the city clerk or the
county clerk and recorder to take any action at variance with
the requirements of the charter.
(9) Section 1-1-202, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-1-202. Commencement of Terms.
The terms of city council members shall commence as specified in
Charter Section 5.
(10) Section 1-2-104, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-2-104. Additional Qualifications.
Qualifications for voting in elections concerning general
improvement districts of the city shall be as specified in Chapter 8-
4, "General Improvement Districts," B.R.C. 1981, and in the
ordinance establishing the specific district.
(11) Section 1-4-501, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-4-501. Electors Eligible to Hold Municipal Office.
Qualifications of electors eligible to hold municipal office are those
set forth in Charter Section 4.
(12) Section 1-4-805, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-4-805. Nomination of Municipal Officers.
Nomination of municipal officers is governed by Charter Sections 23
through 28 and 30.
(13) Section 1-4-901, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-4-901. Recall.
Recall elections shall be conducted when required and under the
procedures specified in Charter Sections 55 through 62. The
conduct of such elections shall be in accordance with those
provisions of this election code not inconsistent with the charter.
(14) (Repealed by Ordinance No. 6018 (1998)).
(15) Section 1-4-1001, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-4-1001. Withdrawal from candidacy.
Withdrawal from nomination shall be governed by Charter Section
29.
(16) Section 1-5-203, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-5-203. Certification of Ballot For Elections Which Are Not
Coordinated.
To the extent not inconsistent with the charter, the city clerk shall
certify the ballot at least fifty days before any election which is not
a coordinated election. The ballot certified shall comply with
Charter Section 31, and shall also include any ballot issues or ballot
questions to be submitted to the eligible voters.
(17) Section 1-5-205, C.R.S., is amended by the addition of a sentence
to read:
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With respect to the election of a member or members of the city
council, the city clerk shall also publish the notice required by and
containing the information contained in Charter Section 31.
(18) Section 1-5-206.5, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-5-206.5. Ballot Issue Notice.
The ballot issue notice shall be prepared and mailed in
accordance with section 20 of article X of the state constitution
and the provisions of Chapter 13-1, "Elections," B.R.C. 1981.
(19) Section 1-5-208, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-5-208. Election May be Canceled or Ballot Questions Withdrawn.
(1) Except for initiative, initiated referendum, and recall elections,
if the only matter before the electors is the consideration of
ballot issues or ballot questions, no later than twenty-five days
before an election conducted as a coordinated election in
November, and at any time prior to any other election, the
city council may by resolution cancel the election or withdraw
one or more such issues or questions from the ballot. The ballot
issues and ballot questions shall be deemed to have not been
submitted and votes cast on the ballot issues and ballot
questions shall either not be counted or shall be deemed
invalid by action of the city council.
(2) If the electors are to consider the election of persons to the
city council and ballot issues or ballot questions, the city
council may remove any or all of the ballot issues or questions
by following the procedures set forth in subsection (1) of this
section.
(3) Unless otherwise provided by an intergovernmental
agreement pursuant to 1-7-116, C.R.S., upon receipt of an
invoice, the city shall within thirty days pay all costs accrued
by the county clerk and recorder and any coordinating
political subdivision attributable to the canceled election and
any removed ballot questions or issues.
(4) The designated election official shall provide notice by
publication of the cancellation of an election and a copy of
the notice shall be posted at each polling place of the city, in
the city clerk's office, and in the office of the county clerk and
recorder.
(20) Section 1-5-406, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-5-406. Content of Ballots.
The designated election official shall provide printed ballots for
every election. The official ballots shall be printed and in the
possession of the designated election official at least thirty days
before the election. Every ballot shall contain the names of all duly
nominated candidates for city council, except those who have
died or withdrawn, and the ballot shall contain no other names. The
names of the candidates shall be printed upon the ballot in
alphabetical order by surname as provided in Charter Section 34.
(21) Section 1-5-602, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-5-602. Requirements for Voting Machines.
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All voting machines shall meet the requirements of Charter Section
33.
(22) Sections 1-6-105 and 106, C.R.S., are repealed and reenacted to
read:
1-6-105. Appointment of Election Judges for Non-partisan Elections.
(1) For coordinated elections, election judges shall be appointed
by the county clerk as provided by state law. For other
elections, no later than fifteen days before the election, the
city clerk shall appoint election judges for the city or the
district for which the election is to be held. The term of office
for such judges shall end with the end of the judge's duties
with respect to the election for which appointed.
(2) For coordinated elections, any person who has been
appointed by a county clerk and recorder, who has filed an
acceptance, and who has attended a class of instruction
may be appointed as an election judge for non-partisan
elections. For other elections, any person who has been
appointed by the city clerk, who has filed an acceptance,
and who has attended a class of instruction may be
appointed as an election judge for such election.
1-6-106. Certification of Appointment
For coordinated elections, thirty days before the election the
county clerk and recorder shall certify the list appointing the
election judges and shall mail one acceptance form to each
person appointed. For other elections, fifteen days before the
election the city clerk shall certify the list appointing the election
judges and shall mail one acceptance form to each person
appointed.
(23) Section 1-7-902, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-7-902. Preparation of Fiscal Information.
The city manager shall be responsible for providing to the
designated election official the fiscal information which must be
included in the ballot issue notice for a referred measure.
(24) Section 1-7.5-104, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-7.5-104. Mail Ballot Elections.
If the city council determines that an election shall be by mail
ballot, the designated election official shall conduct the election
by mail ballot in accordance with this article. The designated
election official shall give appropriate weight to the comments of
the secretary of state concerning the city's mail ballot plan, but
may conduct the election despite disapproval of all or a part of
such plan by the secretary of state.
(25) Section 1-7.5-107, C.R.S., is amended by the addition of a sentence
to read:
With respect to the election of a member or members of the city
council, the city clerk shall also publish the notice required by and
containing the information contained in Charter Section 31.
(26) Sections 1-10-201, 202, and 203, C.R.S., are repealed and
reenacted to read:
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1-10-201. Canvassing.
The general canvassing and election board shall be appointed
and conduct its business as provided in Charter Section 32. The city
clerk shall forward all election returns to the city council for
canvassing pursuant to Charter Section 32. This canvassing board
shall also act as the canvassing board for the city portion of a
coordinated election.
(27) Section 1-10-309, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-10-309. Expenses of the Recount.
All expenses incurred in conducting a recount shall be paid by the
city unless otherwise provided in sections 1-10-304 and 304.5, C.R.S.
(28) Section 1-11-103, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-11-103. Certificates of Election.
Certificates of election shall be issued as provided by Charter
Section 32.
(29) Article 1-12, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read:
1-12-101. Recalls and Vacancies.
Recalls shall be initiated and conducted as provided in Charter
Sections 55 through 62. Vacancies shall be filled as provided in
Charter Section 8.
(30) Section 1-13-107, C.R.S., is amended to add a subsection (b) to
read:
(b) The secretary of state is not authorized by this section to take
any action or enforce any regulation which is inconsistent with
this election code as adopted by the home rule city of
Boulder or with the charter.
(31) The following sections, parts, and articles of the Colorado Revised
Statutes are not adopted by reference, and are not applicable to
city elections: Sections 1-1-112 and 201, 1-2-203, 206, 209, 210, 219,
220, 221, and 222; Article 1-3; Article 1-4 except parts 9, 10, and 11;
Sections 1-4-902 through 908, 910, and 912, 1-4-1002 and 1003, 1-4-
1103, Part 12 of Article 1-4; 1-5-101, 103, 201, 202, 204, 206, 207, 208,
301, 402, 403, and 404; 1-6-102, 103, 104, 109, 110, 111; 1-7-105 and
106; Part 2 of Article 1-7, Sections 1-7-407; Part 1 of Article 1-10,
Sections 1-10-301 and 302; 1 -11 -101 through 108, 1-11-203, 1-11-204
through 211, and Part 3 of Article 1-13.
13-1-3 Responsibility of the City Manager.
The city manager shall administer the requirements of this chapter and
comply with all laws regulating the conduct of elections.
13-1-4 Absentee Ballot Cards.
Whenever an electronic voting system is used in a municipal election
and official ballots are in the form of ballot cards to be read by
electronic vote counting equipment, official absentee ballots may also
be in the form of ballot cards.
13-1-5 Duplication of Absentee Ballots for Counting.
(a) Whenever an electronic voting system is used in a municipal
election and whenever an absentee ballot is not suitable for
counting on the electronic vote counting equipment because such
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ballot was cast in pencil or ink or is in the form of a paper ballot, a
true duplicate copy of the ballot may be made and counted in the
manner provided in this section.
(b) By means of a vote recorder or punching device, the judges of
election of the precinct selected by the city manager to receive
the absentee ballots shall make such duplicate copy by punching
an unused ballot card provided to the judges for that purpose. One
such judge shall read aloud the vote on the original handwritten
ballot and another judge shall punch the duplicate. A third judge
shall watch the duplication process and shall check its accuracy.
(c) An election judge shall label any duplicate ballot so made as a
duplicate ballot and shall record the serial number of the duplicate
ballot on the original handwritten absentee ballot.
(d) If a judge makes an inaccurate duplicate ballot, the judge shall
label such ballot "void" and place it in a separate envelope
provided by the city manager for that purpose. The judges shall
make a new duplicate ballot and label it in the some manner as
provided in this section and shall record the serial number of any
new duplicate ballot on the original handwritten absentee ballot.
(e) The election judges shall retain all original handwritten absentee
ballots and place them in a separate envelope provided by the
city manager for that purpose.
(f) The election judges shall substitute any duplicate ballot made
under this section for the original ballot and shall present such
duplicate for counting on the electronic vote counting equipment
at the counting center after 7:00 p.m. on election day in the same
manner as other ballots from city election precincts are counted.
(g) No election judge shall make any duplicate ballot under this
section before the time otherwise allowed by law for the counting
of absentee ballots.
(h) Whenever election judges of the absentee voter precinct use the
duplicate ballot process authorized by this section, such judges
shall make a written statement, in addition to any other statements
or certificates otherwise required by law to be made, showing the
number of duplicate ballots made and not marked "void" together
with the serial numbers thereof and the number of duplicate ballots
made and marked "void" together with the serial numbers thereof
and shall return such statement to the city manager with other
election papers and supplies.
(i) When absentee ballots are duplicated and counted as authorized
by this section, the absentee precinct judges shall not be required
to make or post an abstract of the count of votes.
(j) All provisions of the election laws of the city that are not
inconsistent or in conflict with this section continue to apply to all
elections where the duplicate ballot process authorized by this
section is used. Any provisions of the election laws of the city that
are inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this section do
not apply to elections where the duplicate ballot process provided
in this section is used. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
prohibit the use of a manual system of counting absentee ballots.
(k) The city manager is authorized to institute other procedures not
inconsistent with the provisions of this section that are designed to
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promote efficiency and accuracy in the duplication process
authorized by this section.
13-1-6 Submission of Citizen Petitions for Comment Prior to Circulation.
The proponents of an initiative, referendum, or charter amendment
petition may submit a draft thereof to the city manager before
circulating the petition. No later than fifteen days after the date of
receiving such petition draft, and after consulting with the city attorney,
the manager shall provide written comments to the proponents
concerning any problems encountered in the format or contents of the
draft. The proponents may either disregard the comments or alter the
petition draft in response thereto.
13-1-7 Initiative and Referendum.
All aspects of the exercise of the initiative and referendum power
reserved to the people by the charter of the City of Boulder shall be
governed exclusively by the provisions of the charter, this code, and any
other applicable ordinance of the city, and no statute of the state,
purporting to regulate in any way the exercise of the initiative or
referendum shall govern the exercise of the initiative or referendum,
except for those criminal provisions of state law not in conflict with any
provision of the charter or this code which prohibit fraud or deception in
the circulation or signing of initiative or referendum petitions, or
respecting affidavits concerning said petitions. This section does not
apply to initiatives concerning the amendment or abolition of the
charter.
13-1-8 Special Provisions Concerning Filling Council Vacancies by Special
Election.
The electors of the city approved an amendment to Charter Section 8 in
November 1996. That amendment changed the method of filling
vacancies on the city council from an appointment system to an
election system. This section establishes the term of a person elected by
special election to fill a council vacancy, and makes such adjustments
to the provisions of the Uniform Election Code of 1992, as adopted with
amendments by this title, as are useful in adapting that code to the
exigencies of special elections to fill vacancies, which must be
conducted on a compressed time frame.
(a) The term of a council member elected in a special election held
pursuant to Charter Section 8 to fill a council vacancy shall expire
at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday in November following the next
general municipal election.
(b) The city council may, in the resolution calling for a special election
to fill a council vacancy, specify a number of days before the
election that the early voters' polling place shall be open which is
less than that specified in Section 1-8-202, C.R.S., as adopted by
reference, and may also specify additional hours during which such
early voters' polling place shall be open. But such a provision is only
effective for a special election which is not conducted as a
coordinated election.
Chapter 2 Campaign Financing Disclosure'
13-2-1 Legislative Intent.
(a) The purposes of this chapter include assisting electors in the city in
making informed election decisions by requiring financial disclosure
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information from candidates for city office and committees
supporting or opposing such candidates and city ballot issues.
(b) The limitations on contributions and the public financing of
campaigns are intended to assure the public that:
(1) Excessive campaign costs and large contributions do not
cause corruption or the appearance of corruption in the
election process;
(2) Large campaign contributions will not be used to buy political
access or to influence governmental actions; and
(3) Access to large amounts of money will not be a prime
requirement for participation in the political process.
(c) The provisions of this chapter concerning financial disclosure are
exclusive, and supercede any state statute on the subject, whether
in conflict herewith or not, including, without limitation, Article 1-45,
C.R.S., unless the provisions of such statute are expressly made
applicable by reference in this chapter.
(d) The reporting requirements are necessary to gather the data to
detect violations.
(e) The provisions of this chapter have been modeled on the Federal
Election Campaign Act and the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices
Act, and in accordance with an initiative passed by the people of
the city in 1999. Modifications have been made where necessary
to meet specific needs of the city, to clarify and make more
specific various requirements, and to comply with the evolving law
in this area.
(f) The city council finds that at this time it is not necessary to require
candidates and their candidate committees to report expenditures
over $200.00 as frequently as such reporting is necessary for
unofficial candidate committees and independent expenditures in
order to serve the purposes of this chapter. Candidates are
necessarily subject to intense scrutiny throughout the campaign,
and are required to file financial disclosures shortly after becoming
candidates. They become candidates no later than seventy-one
days before the election under the Charter. Generally candidate
committees file their statement of organization at the beginning of
the campaign, and thus are a formed ongoing entity which is well
known. Unofficial candidate committees can be formed at any
time, and individuals can make independent expenditures at any
time, so within twenty-one days of the election more frequent
reporting of larger expenditures is required of them. Council, like
the United States Congress, finds that a twenty-four hour reporting
period is not unreasonable in that immediate pre-election time,
especially where mail ballots are used. In addition, if unofficial
candidate committees and individuals making independent
expenditures use the alternative of reporting campaign advertising
instead of placing language of attribution in the advertisement,
more frequent reporting is essential if voters interested in knowing
the source of the advertisement are to be able to discover this
information in a timely manner.
(g) Making an endorsement supporting or opposing a candidate or
ballot proposition, or solicitation of such an endorsement by a
candidate, committee, or other person, is not regulated by this title.
However, the expenditures for publishing endorsements, and any
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contributions for support or opposition to a candidate or ballot
proposition other than the endorsement itself, are regulated by this
title in the same way as other contributions and expenditures.
13-2-2 Definitions.
The following terms used in this chapter and Chapter 13-3, "Campaign
Activities;" B.R.C. 1981, have the following meanings unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
"Ballot proposition" means any amendment to the City Charter, and any
initiative, referendum, or recall for which petitions have been
properly certified by the city clerk for submission to the city council,
or any ordinance or issue put to a vote of the electors of the City of
Boulder under the provisions of the City Charter. Such term does
not include any ballot issue placed on the ballot by the United
States, the State of Colorado or any political subdivision thereof
other than the city.
"Candidate" means any person whose petition of nomination for city
council, whether at a regular, special, or recall election, has been
certified as sufficient by the city clerk pursuant to Charter Section
26.
"Candidate committee" means a person, including the candidate, or
persons with the common purpose of receiving contributions or
making expenditures under the authority of a candidate. The term
"official candidate committee" is synonymous with "candidate
committee."
"Committee" means a candidate committee, an unofficial candidate
committee, and an issue committee, unless the context indicates
that it can mean only one or two of these types of committees.
"Contribution" means:
(1) Any payment, loan, pledge, or advance of money, including,
without limitation, checks received but not deposited or
payments made by credit card , or guarantee of a loan,
made to or for the benefit of any candidate or committee;
(2) Any payment made to a third party for the benefit of any
candidate or committee, including without limitation the use
of a credit card to secure such benefit;
(3) Anything of value given, directly or indirectly, to a candidate for
the purpose of promoting the candidate's election, including
without limitation commercial services such as banking,
printing, and mailing services; or
(4) With regard to a contribution for which the contributor receives
compensation or consideration of less than equivalent value
to such contribution, including, without limitation, items of
perishable or non-permanent value, goods, supplies, services,
or participation in a campaign-related event, an amount
equal to the value in excess of such compensation or
consideration.
"Contribution" does not include services provided without compensation
by individuals volunteering their time on behalf of a candidate or
committee.
"Contribution in kind" means the fair market value of a gift or loan of any
item of real or personal property, other than money, made to or for
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any candidate or committee for the purpose of influencing the
passage or defeat of any issue or the election or defeat of any
candidate. Personal services are a contribution in kind by the
person paying compensation therefor. In determining the value to
be placed on contributions in kind, a reasonable estimate of fair
market value shall be used by the candidate or committee.
"Contribution in kind" does not include an endorsement of a
candidate or an issue by any person, nor does it include the
payment of compensation for legal or accounting services
rendered to a candidate if the person paying for the services is the
regular employer of the individual rendering the services and the
services are solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the
provisions of this title.
"Expenditure" means the payment, distribution, loan, or advance of any
money by any candidate or committee, whether in cash, by
check, as a credit card charge, or otherwise. "Expenditure" also
includes the payment, distribution, loan, or advance of any money
by a person for the benefit of a candidate or committee that is
made with the prior knowledge and consent of an agent of the
candidate or committee. An expenditure occurs when the actual
payment is made or when a contract is agreed upon, whichever
comes first. Consent may be implied from collaboration and need
not be express.
'Independent expenditure' means an expenditure by any person for the
purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a
candidate or candidates, which expenditure is not controlled by,
coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate
or candidate committee or any agent of such candidate or
committee. "Independent expenditure" does not include
expenditures made by persons, other than political parties and
political committees, in the regular course and scope of their
business, including political messages sent solely to members.
'Issue' is synonymous with ballot proposition.
'Issue committee' means any two or more natural persons who
collaborate together, or any corporation, partnership, commission,
association, or any other organization or group of persons, that
accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of
opposing or supporting a ballot proposition at a city election,
regardless of whether or not it has obtained the consent of the
sponsors of the ballot proposition.
"Official candidate committee:" see definition of "candidate
committee"
"Unofficial candidate committee" means any two or more natural
persons who collaborate together, or any corporation, partnership,
commission, association, or any other organization or group of
persons, that accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the
purpose of expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly
identified candidate for city council. An unofficial candidate
committee ceases to be independent if its expenditures are in any
way, directly or indirectly, controlled by, coordinated with, or made
upon consultation with any candidate or candidate committee or
agent thereof.
"Political committee" means any two or more natural persons who
collaborate together, or any corporation, partnership, commission,
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association, or any other organization or group of persons, that
accepts contributions or makes expenditures for the purpose of
opposing or supporting a candidate for city council, or a city ballot
proposition, and which, because of campaign activities
concerning other candidates, other ballot measures, or both, is
required under the Fair Campaign Practices Act found in state law
to file statements and reports with the secretary of state or the
county clerk and recorder. It is the intention of this chapter to
reduce the burden on such committees of following two separate
sets of filing and reporting requirements, while still protecting the
public purposes served by filing and reporting. However, no
candidate committee or other committee, the expenditures of
which are in any way, directly or indirectly, controlled by,
coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate
or candidate committee or agent thereof shall be deemed a
political committee eligible for these different requirements.
13-2-3 Candidate's Financial Disclosure Statement.
No more than three days after a candidate's petition of nomination for
city council has been certified as sufficient by the city clerk pursuant to
Charter Section 26, the candidate shall file a statement of financial
disclosure that contains:
(a) The candidate's employer and occupation and the nature and
source of any other income in excess of $1,000.00 per year,
including, without limitation, capital gains, whether or not taxable,
dividends, interest, wages, salaries, rents, and profits;
(b) The name, location, and nature of activity of any business entities
or enterprises for profit, with holdings of real or personal property or
with business dealings in the area encompassed by the Boulder
Valley Comprehensive Plan, in which the candidate has any
financial interest or is actively engaged as an officer, director, or
partner and the nature of the candidate's interest or activity;
(c) The location of any real property within Boulder County in which
the candidate has an interest or, if the candidate has a controlling
interest in an entity or enterprise disclosed pursuant to subsection
(b) of this section, in which the controlled entity or enterprise has
any interest and the nature of such interest;
(d) Any other information that the candidate feels would be helpful or
should be disclosed; and
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no candidate is
required to disclose any confidential relationship protected by law.
13-2-4 Incumbent's Financial Disclosure Statement.
On September 10 of each calendar year each incumbent council
member shall file an amended statement concerning the financial
disclosures in Section 13-2-3, "Candidate's Financial Disclosure
Statement," B.R.C. 1981, with the city manager or notify the manager in
writing that the council member has no change of financial condition
regarding the disclosed items since previously filing a disclosure
statement.
13-2-5 Statement of Organization of Official Candidate Committee.
(a) No more than three days after a candidate's petition of
nomination for city council has been certified as sufficient by the
city clerk pursuant to Charter Section 26, the candidate shall file a
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statement of organization of the committee formed to assist the
candidate in being elected to city council. This statement shall be
filed even if the candidate has not formed a committee, and shall
be amended later if a committee is formed or the information
required changes. The statement of organization shall include:
(1) The name and address of the candidate;
(2) The name and address of the committee;
(3) The names and addresses of all persons acting as officers of
the candidate's campaign or of the committee, including
committee chairpersons; and
(4) The name and address of the committee's campaign
treasurer.
(b) A candidate may be the treasurer and hold any position in the
candidate's own campaign committee. A candidate is deemed to
have a committee even if there is none, but this does not increase
the reporting requirements. No candidate shall be deemed to
have more than one candidate committee, and if more than one
committee acts under the authority of or in coordination with a
candidate, all shall be deemed the candidate's committee and
shall file combined reports as required by this title and all shall jointly
be subject to the limitations of this title.
(c) The committee treasurer shall file a statement of any changes in
the information required by subsection (a) of this section no more
than three days after such change.
(d) Expenditures by any person on behalf of a candidate that are, in
any way, directly or indirectly, controlled by, coordinated with, or
made upon consultation with any candidate or the candidate's
official committee or agent thereof shall be considered a
contribution to the candidate and are subject to the contribution
limitations contained in this chapter. If such an expenditure is made
by an unofficial candidate committee, all contributions to that
committee shall be deemed contributions to the candidate for
purposes of contribution limitations. Such expenditures also count
toward the expenditure limit of any candidate receiving public
funding under this chapter.
13-2-6 Statement of Organization of Unofficial Candidate Committee.
(a) No more than three days after an unofficial candidate committee
accepts a contribution or makes or obligates itself to make an
expenditure, the treasurer of the committee shall file a statement of
organization that includes:
(1) The name and address of the committee;
(2) The candidate or candidates the committee is supporting or
opposing, or both if that is the case;
(3) The names and addresses of all persons acting as officers of
the committee, including committee chairpersons; and
(4) The name and address of the committee's campaign
treasurer.
(b) The committee treasurer shall file a statement of any changes in
the information required by this section no more than three days
after such change.
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(c) Expenditures by any unofficial candidate committee on behalf of a
candidate that are, in any way, directly or indirectly, controlled by,
coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate
or the candidate's committee or agent thereof shall be considered
a contribution to the candidate and subject the candidate and
the contributor to any applicable penalties contained in this
chapter. Such expenditures also count toward the expenditure limit
of any candidate who has received public funding under this
chapter.
(d) Unofficial candidate committees which make expenditures on
behalf of any candidate who has received public funding under
this chapter shall keep records of the time, place, and general
subject matter of all consultation with any person, other than a
member of the committee who is not affiliated with any other
candidate or official or unofficial candidate committee,
concerning the substance, venue, and timing of the expenditure,
which records shall be given to the city manager by the committee
treasurer if the manager makes a demand for same. The manager
is authorized to make such a demand any time the manager has a
reasonable suspicion that the expenditures were controlled by, or
coordinated with, or made upon consultation with any candidate
or candidate's committee or other unofficial candidate committee
or agent thereof.
13-2-7 Statement of Organization of Issue Committee.
(a) No more than three days after an issue committee accepts a
contribution or makes an expenditure, or three days after ballot
certification if the committee has accepted contributions or made
expenditures in anticipation of ballot proposition certification, the
treasurer of the committee shall file a statement of organization
that includes:
(1) The name and address of the committee;
(2) The ballot proposition or propositions being supported or
opposed by the committee;
(3) The names and addresses of all persons acting as officers of
the committee, including committee chairpersons; and
(4) The name and address of the committee's treasurer.
(b) The committee treasurer shall file a statement of any changes in
the information required by this section no more than three days
after such change.
13-2-8 Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of Official Candidate
Committee.
(a) The candidate, or the treasurer of each official candidate
committee, shall file statements of contributions and expenditures
according to the following schedule:
(1) Three days after the candidate's petition of nomination for city
council has been certified as sufficient by the city clerk
pursuant to Charter Section 26, which statement shall cover all
contributions and expenditures made in anticipation of
candidacy;
(2) On the twenty-eighth day prior to the election; and
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(3) On the fourteenth day prior to the election.
(b) The statement shall contain:
(1) The names and addresses of each person making
contributions to the filer's knowledge, and the amount, dates,
and nature of such contributions since the last report required
to be filed by this chapter, unless the statement is the first one
required;
(2) The cumulative total value of the contributions received;
(3) The names and addresses of each person to whom an
expenditure has been made and the amount, date, and
purpose of such expenditure since the last statement required
by this chapter, unless the statement is the first one required;
(4) The cumulative total value of all expenditures made; and
(5) A statement of all anonymous contributions received,
together with their disposition, from the last statement required
by this chapter, unless this statement is the first one required.
(c) By 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election, the candidate or
the treasurer of each official candidate committee shall file a
statement of contributions and expenditures, providing the
information required by subsection (b) of this section, together with
anticipated contributions and expenditures for the remainder of
the campaign, if any, before or after the election.
(d) On the thirtieth day after the election, the candidate or the
treasurer of each official candidate committee shall file a final
statement of contributions and expenditures, stating the
information required by subsection (b) of this section and, if a
balance remains on the candidate's or committee's books, the
intended disposition of that balance. If such a balance remains,
the candidate and treasurer shall file a final statement sixty days
after the election showing the actual disposition of that balance.
(e) The candidate and the candidate's committee shall comply with
the disclosure requirements of Section 13-2-13, "Election Materials
and Advertising Supporting or Opposing Candidate to Contain
Sponsor's Name," B.R.C. 1981.
13-2-9 Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of Unofficial Candidate
Committee.
(a) The treasurer of each unofficial candidate committee shall file
statements of contributions and expenditures according to the
following schedule:
(1) Three days after the committee accepts a contribution or
makes or obligates itself to make an expenditure, which
statement shall cover all contributions and expenditures made
in anticipation of candidacy;
(2) On the twenty-eighth day prior to the election; and
(3) On the fourteenth day prior to the election.
(b) The statement shall contain:
(1) The names and addresses of each person making
contributions to the treasurer's knowledge, and the amount,
dates, and nature of such contributions since the last report
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required to be filed by this section, unless the statement is the
first one required;
(2) The cumulative total value of the contributions received;
(3) The names and addresses of each person to whom an
expenditure has been made and the amount, date, and
purpose of such expenditure since the last statement required
by this section, unless the statement is the first one required;
(4) The cumulative total value of all expenditures made; and
(5) A statement of all anonymous contributions received,
together with their disposition, from the last statement required
by this section, unless this statement is the first one required.
(c) By 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election, the treasurer of
each unofficial candidate committee shall file a statement of
contributions and expenditures, providing the information required
by subsection (b) of this section, together with anticipated
contributions and expenditures for the remainder of the campaign,
if any, before or after the election.
(d) In addition, if an unofficial candidate committee makes an
expenditure in excess of $200.00, the treasurer of the committee
shall file a statement of independent expenditure giving the names
and addresses of each person to whom such an expenditure has
been made, and the amount, date, and purpose of such
expenditure, on the following schedule:
(1) On or before the twenty-first day before the election: within
three business days after obligating funds for the first such
expenditure. (These requirements are in addition to the first
and subsequent periodic filings required above. If more than
one such expenditure is made before the twenty-first day
before the election, the expenditures after the first need not
be filed until made part of the twenty-first day filing. It is
intended that all such expenditures be reported, but that no
expenditure be reported twice.)
(2) On or after the twenty-first day but more than twenty-four
hours before the election, and including any reportable
expenditure not previously reported: within twenty-four hours
after obligating funds for such expenditure.
(3) On or before the thirtieth day after the election, notice of any
independent expenditure in excess of $200.00 made on the
day before or the day of the election.
(4) A statement due on a weekend or holiday shall be filed on the
next business day.
(e) On the thirtieth day after the election, the treasurer of each
unofficial candidate committee shall file a final statement of
contributions and expenditures, stating the information required by
subsection (b) of this section and, if a balance remains on the
committee's books, the intended disposition of that balance. If
such a balance remains, the candidate and treasurer shall file a
final statement sixty days after the election showing the actual
disposition of that balance.
(f) Unofficial candidate committees shall comply with the disclosure
requirements of Section 13-2-13, "Election Materials and Advertising
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Supporting or Opposing Candidate to Contain Sponsor's Name;'
B.R.C. 1981.
13-2-10 Independent Expenditures.
(a) Any natural person making an independent candidate
expenditure in excess of $200.00 shall deliver notice in writing to the
city clerk of such independent expenditure, as well as the amount
of such expenditure, and a detailed description of the use of such
independent expenditure, within three business days after
obligating funds for such expenditure. Thereafter, notice of
additional expenditure obligations in excess of $200.00 shall be
delivered to the clerk on the twenty-first day before the election.
Notice of each subsequent independent expenditures in excess of
$200.00 up to twenty-four hours before the election but not
previously reported shall be delivered to the clerk within twenty-four
hours after obligating funds for the independent expenditure. On or
before the thirtieth day after the election, notice of any
independent expenditure in excess of $200.00 made on the day
before or the day of the election shall be delivered to the clerk. The
notice shall specifically state the name of the candidate or
candidates whom the independent expenditure is intended to
support or oppose. Each independent expenditure shall be
reported as a separate item in each notice.
(b) Any natural person making an independent expenditure in excess
of $200.00 shall comply with the disclosure requirements of Section
13-2-13, "Election Materials and Advertising Supporting or Opposing
Candidate to Contain Sponsor's Name," B.R.C. 1981.
(c) Expenditures by any natural person on behalf of a candidate that
are, in any way, directly or indirectly, controlled by, coordinated
with, or made upon consultation with any candidate or the
candidate's committee or agent thereof shall be considered a
contribution to the candidate and subject the candidate and the
contributor to any applicable penalties contained in this chapter.
Such expenditures also count toward the expenditure limit of any
candidate who has received public funding under this chapter.
(d) Individuals who make an independent expenditure on behalf of
any candidate who has received public funding under this chapter
shall keep records of the time, place, and general subject matter
of all consultation with any person about the substance, venue,
and timing of the expenditure, which records shall be given to the
city manager if the manager makes a demand for some. The
manager is authorized to make such a demand any time the
manager has a reasonable suspicion that the expenditures were
controlled by or coordinated with or made upon consultation with,
any candidate or candidate's committee or agent thereof.
13-2-11 Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of Issue Committee.
(a) The treasurer of each issue committee shall file a statement of
contributions and expenditures according to the following
schedule:
(1) Three days after the committee accepts a contribution or
makes or obligates itself to make an expenditure, or three
days after ballot certification if the committee has accepted
contributions or made expenditures in anticipation of ballot
proposition certification;
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(2) On the twenty-eighth day prior to the election; and
(3) On the fourteenth day prior to the election.
(b) The statement shall contain:
(1) The names and addresses of each person making
contributions to the treasurer's knowledge, and the amount,
dates, and nature of such contributions since the last report
required to be filed by this section, unless the statement is the
first one required;
(2) The cumulative total value of the contributions received;
(3) The names and addresses of each person to whom an
expenditure has been made and the amount, date, and
purpose of such expenditure since the last statement required
by this section, unless the statement is the first one required;
(4) The cumulative total value of all expenditures made; and
(5) A listing of the amount of each individual anonymous
contribution, together with the total of all anonymous
contributions received from the last statement required by this
section, unless this statement is the first one required.
(c) By 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election, the treasurer of
each issue committee shall file a statement of contributions and
expenditures, providing the information required by subsection (b)
of this section, together with anticipated contributions and
expenditures for the remainder of the campaign, if any, before or
after the election.
(d) On the thirtieth day after the election, the treasurer of each issue
committee shall file with the city manager a final statement of
contributions and expenditures, stating the information required by
subsection (a) of this section and, if a balance remains on the
committee's books, the intended disposition of that balance. If
such a balance remains, the candidate and treasurer shall file a
final statement sixty days after the election showing the actual
disposition of that balance.
13-2-12 Political Committee Filing and Reporting Requirements.
A political committee which is, by virtue of its support for or opposition to
a candidate for a political office other than that of city council of the
city, or for a ballot proposition appearing on the ballot of an entity other
than the city, required to file, and does file with the secretary of state or
the county clerk and recorder, or both, the disclosures required by
Section 1-45-108, C.R.S., and complies with the reporting and filing
requirements of Section 1-45-109, C.R.S., and disposes of unexpended
campaign contributions pursuant to Section 1-45-106, C.R.S., is exempt
from the separate filing and reporting and unexpended campaign
contribution requirements of this chapter. But such a committee shall file
with the city manager, within three days of its first acceptance of a
contribution or expenditure in support of or opposition to a candidate
for city council or a city ballot proposition, a full and correct copy of its
registration statement as filed with the secretary of state pursuant to
Subsection 1-45-108(3), C.R.S., and the most recent other report or
disclosure which it has filed with the secretary of state or any county
clerk and recorder, and shall thereafter file with the city manager full
and correct copies of every disclosure or report on the same day it files
such a document with either state official, plus an expenditure report
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conforming with Section 13-2-9, "Statement of Contributions and
Expenditures of Unofficial Candidate Committee," or 13-2-11, "Statement
of Contributions and Expenditures of Issue Committee," B.R.C. 1981, as
applicable, segregating, insofar as possible, expenditures made on the
city election.
13-2-13 Election Materials and Advertising Supporting or Opposing Candidate
to Contain Sponsor's Name.
All persons composing, presenting, or distributing information in any of
the following forms, which expressly opposes or supports any candidate
or candidates, shall include therein the name of the person who
financed the composition, presentation, or distribution of such
information: posters, advertisements, leaflets, flyers, brochures, letters,
postcards, records, or tapes.
13-2-14 Solicitation for Candidate Campaign Funds.
Whenever any person makes an expenditure for the purpose of soliciting
any contribution through any broadcasting station, newspaper,
magazine, outdoor advertising facility, direct mailing or any other type of
general public political advertising for the purpose of financing
communications expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly
identified candidate, such communication:
(a) If authorized by a candidate or committee or any agent thereof,
shall clearly state that the communication has been so authorized;
(b) If paid for by other persons but authorized by a candidate or
committee, or its agents, shall clearly state that the communication
is paid for by such other persons and authorized by such candidate
or committee, or its agents; or
(c) If not authorized by a candidate or committee, or its agents, shall
clearly state the name of the person who paid for the
communication and state that the communication is not
authorized by any candidate or committee.
(d) Each candidate and committee shall include on the face or front
page of all literature and advertisements soliciting contributions the
following notice:
"A copy of our report is filed with the City Clerk of the City of Boulder,
Colorado."
13-2-15 Filing, Preservation, and Public Inspection of Statements.
(a) Persons required by this chapter to prepare and file statements shall
do so on the basis of information that is complete and current at
least as of 5:00 p.m on the second calendar day before the filing
date.
(b) Persons required by this chapter to file statements or deliver notices
shall file such statements or notices with the city manager on forms
that the manager provides.
(c) The city manager shall preserve all statements filed under this
chapter for a period of six months from the date of the election or,
in the case of a successful candidate, until six months after the
person finally leaves office. Such statements constitute a part of the
public records of the city and shall be available for public
inspection during normal business hours.
13-2-16 Notice of Disclosure Requirements and Enforcement.
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The city manager shall administer the provisions of this article and shall:
(a) Publish a summary of the filing and reporting required of
candidates and committees and independent expenditures in a
newspaper of general circulation in the city on the forty-fifth day
before each regular municipal election, or as soon thereafter as
practicable after the calling of a special election, and again two
weeks after each municipal election;
(b) Prepare and make available the forms to be used in filing the
statements required by this chapter;
(c) Prepare and provide to each candidate or organization upon its
first filing with the manager a checklist of the statements required
and the specific calendar date each is due;
(d) Keep a record of persons or organizations to whom the forms and
checklists were given and a record of the date such filings were
received;
(e) Upon concluding on the basis of such records, complaints, or other
information that a candidate or organization has not filed the
required statements or has filed incomplete or incorrect statements,
immediately notify, either verbally or in writing, the person required
to file that such person must file the missing statement or provide
the information within seventy-two hours of the manager's notice;
and
(f) As soon as practical after any candidate signs a contract with the
city for matching funds, the manager shall publish notice of that
fact electronically on the city's website, in the city's regular news
release, and as part of the next available weekend newspaper
listing of upcoming city government activities.
13-2-17 Contribution Limitation.
No candidate for city council, or candidate committee, or unofficial
candidate committee, shall solicit or accept any contribution, including
any "in-kind" contribution, that will cause the total contributions from any
person to exceed $100.00 to that candidate with respect to any single
election. The recipient of any contribution which would cause the total
amount of contributions to a candidate from a single person to exceed
$100.00 shall promptly return any such excess to the donor. The
candidate and the candidate's committee shall be treated as one, and
a contribution to one is counted as a contribution to the other.
Contributions to unofficial candidate committees are separately subject
to the $100.00 limitation.
13-2-18 Anonymous Contributions.
(a) Anonymous contributions to any candidate or candidate
committee or unofficial candidate committee may not be retained
or expended by the candidate or committee. Anonymous
contributions also may not be retained or expended by a political
committee insofar as it is reasonably possible to discern from the
contribution that it was intended to support that committee's
efforts to elect or defeat a candidate. If anonymous contributions
are received by a candidate or committee, they shall be disposed
of as follows:
(1) If the candidate has accepted public financing under this
chapter, all anonymous contributions to the candidate or the
candidate's committee shall be forwarded to the city clerk
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with the next required report, noted in the report, and
deposited in the general fund of the city.
(2) Unofficial candidate committees, political committees, and
candidates and candidate committees of candidates who
have not accepted public financing under this chapter shall
donate anonymous contributions to any charitable
organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service
pursuant to section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or
to the city, and the distribution of such funds shall be indicated
on the next report required to be filed pursuant to Section 13-
2-8, "Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of Official
Candidate Committee," or 13-2-9, "Statement of Contributions
and Expenditures of Unofficial Candidate Committee," B.R.C.
1981.
(3) If an anonymous contribution is donated to a charitable
organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service
pursuant to section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
the candidate or committee shall retain the envelope or other
container in which it arrived, together with any other material
which arrived with it, and a photocopy of the contribution
itself (showing only the amount and serial number of any bills),
and shall retain such information as candidate or committee
records for at least six months after the election, and shall
make such records available to the city manager upon
request.
(b) If an anonymous contribution is received by an issue committee,
the treasurer shall retain the envelope or other container in which it
arrived, together with any other material which arrived with it, and
a photocopy of the contribution itself (showing only the amount
and serial number of any bills), and shall retain such information as
committee records for at least six months after the election, and
shall make such records available to the city manager upon
request.
13-2-19 Unexpended Campaign Contributions.
Unexpended contributions to candidates or committees may be
donated to any charitable organization recognized by the Internal
Revenue Service pursuant to section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Code or returned to the contributor, and the distribution of such funds
shall be indicated on the final report of the committee required to be
filed pursuant to Section 13-2-8, "Statement of Contributions and
Expenditures of Official Candidate Committee," or 13-2-9, "Statement of
Contributions and Expenditures of Unofficial Candidate Committee,"
B.R.C. 1981.
13-2-20 Public Matching Funds.
(a) The city will allocate and provide matching funds, up to fifty
percent of the expenditure limit as herein defined, to any city
council candidate who meets the eligibility requirements set out in
Section 13-2-21, "Eligibility for Matching Funds," B.R.C. 1981. The
expenditure limit shall be set at $0.15 per registered city voter as of
the day after the date set by state law for the purging of
registration records of the election year. This limit shall be adjusted
based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (all items) of the
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the
statistical area which includes the city, in an amount equal to the
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percentage change for the preceding two years. Only actual
currency or its equivalent shall be matched with public funds.
Neither loans nor in-kind contributions nor amounts exceeding
$100.00 from the candidate's personal wealth shall be eligible for
matching funds.
(b) After meeting the eligibility requirements, any candidate may
request matching funds from the city no more frequently than once
per week in amounts no less than $500.00. The final request for
matching funds must be submitted to the city no later than
fourteen days before the election, but may be for less than $500.00.
13-2-21 Eligibility for Matching Funds.
A candidate who meets the following requirements shall be eligible to receive
matching funds:
(a) The candidate raises at least ten percent of the expenditure limit
from individual contributors. No more than $25.00 of each
contribution may be counted toward the ten percent; and
(b) The candidate signs a contract with the city committing to the
following:
(1) Agrees to limit his or her expenditures to $0.15 per registered
voter of the city as of the day after the date set by state law
for the purging of registration records of the election year. This
limit shall be adjusted based on changes in the Consumer
Price Index (all items) of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau
of Labor Statistics, for the statistical area which includes the
city, in an amount equal to the percentage change for the
preceding two years;
(2) Agrees to contribute to his or her campaign no more than
twenty percent of the expenditure limit from his or her own
personal wealth;
(3) Agrees to return at least fifty percent of any unexpended
funds to the city, but not more than the matching funds
received; and
(4) Agrees to treat any carryover funds from a previous campaign
as funds from the candidate's personal wealth, subject to the
limits of such funds.
13-2-22 Violations and Penalty.
(a) Criminal Acts and Penalties: No person shall:
(1) File any statement required by this chapter that the person
knows contains false information;
(2) Fail to file a required statement within seventy-two hours of
having been notified by the city manager pursuant to
Subsection 13-2-16(e), B.R.C. 1981;
(3) Fail to provide required information necessary to complete a
required statement within seventy-two hours of having been
notified by the city manager pursuant to Subsection 13-2-
16(e), B.R.C. 1981;
(4) Knowingly misstate or misrepresent the name of the person
who financed the composition, presentation or distribution of
information as required by Section 13-2-13, "Election Materials
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and Advertising Supporting or Opposing Candidate to
Contain Sponsor's Name," B.R.C. 1981; or
(5) Fail to comply with any of the other requirements of this
chapter;
(6) Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection is
subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000.00.
(b) Civil Remedies:
(1) For the purposes of this subsection, "this ordinance" means
those provisions adopted by the people in the 1999 regular
municipal election as placed on the ballot in Ordinance 6097,
including, without limitation, any contract entered into
pursuant to Subsection 13-2-21(b), B.R.C. 19812.
(2) Any registered elector of the city may bring a civil action
including, without limitation, an action for injury, and may sue
for injunctive relief to enjoin violations or to compel
compliance with this ordinance consistent with paragraph (3)
below, provided such person first files with the city attorney a
written request for the city attorney to commence action. The
request shall include a statement of grounds for believing a
cause of action exists. The city attorney shall respond within
ten days after receipt of the request indicating whether the
city attorney intends to file a civil action. If the city attorney
indicates in the affirmative and files suit within thirty days
thereafter, no other civil action for the same violation may be
brought unless the action brought by the city attorney is
dismissed without prejudice.
(3) Any candidate or candidate committee who knowingly
accepts a contribution in excess of $100.00 or exceeds the
expenditure limit in violation of the contract with the city and
this ordinance is liable in a civil action initiated by the city
attorney or by a registered elector of the city for an amount
up to $500.00 or three times the amount by which the
contribution or expenditure limit is exceeded, whichever is
greater.
(4) In determining the amount of civil liability, the court may take
into account the seriousness of the violation and culpability of
the defendant.
(5) The city attorney shall enforce all provisions of this ordinance.
(6) The city council is empowered to create an advisory
committee and other enforcement procedures as it deems
appropriate to implement this ordinance.
Chapter 3 Campaign Activities
13-3-1 Legislative Intent.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate election campaign activities in
municipal elections. The provisions of this chapter have been modeled
on portions of the Federal Election Campaign Act, 2 U.S.C. Sections 435
and 441. Modifications have been made where necessary to meet
specific needs of the city2. The provisions of this chapter concerning
municipal election campaign activities are exclusive, and supersede
any state statute on the subject, whether in conflict herewith or not,
including, without limitation, Article 1-45, C.R.S.
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13-3-2 Campaign Advertising Requirements.
No person who sells space in a newspaper or magazine to a candidate
or committee to use in connection with a municipal election may
charge an amount for such space which exceeds the amount charged
for comparable use of such space for other purposes.
13-3-3 Contributions by City Contractors.
It shall be unlawful for any person who enters into any contract with the
city or any department or agency thereof either for the rendition of
personal services or furnishing any material, supplies, or equipment to
the city or any department or agency thereof, or for selling any land or
building to the city or any department or agency thereof, if payment for
the performance of such contract or payment for such material,
supplies, equipment, land, or building is to be made in whole or in part
from funds appropriated by the city council, at any time between the
commencement of negotiations for and the later of completion of
performance under or the termination of negotiations for such contract
or furnishing of material, supplies, equipment, land, or buildings, directly
or indirectly to make any contribution of money or other things of value,
or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution to any
candidate or committee or to any person for any political purpose or
use in any city election; or knowingly to solicit any such contribution from
any such person for any such purpose during any such period.
13-3-4 Contributions in Name of Another Prohibited.
No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or
knowingly permit such person's name to be used to effect such a
contribution, and no person shall knowingly accept a contribution made
by one person in the name of another person.
13-3-5 Limitation on Contribution of Currency.
No person shall make contributions of coin or paper currency of the
United States or of any foreign country to or for the benefit of any
candidate or committee, which, in the aggregate, exceed $100.00 with
respect to any campaign in which such candidate or committee is
participating for a municipal election.
13-3-6 Misrepresentation of Campaign Authority.
No candidate or political committee or any agent thereof shall make
any fraudulent misrepresentation as speaking or writing or otherwise
acting for or on behalf of any other candidate or committee on a
matter which is damaging to such other candidate or committee; or
willfully and knowingly participate in or conspire to participate in any
plan, scheme, or design to do so.
Chapter 4 Complaints Related to Election Procedures and Regulations
13-4-1 Legislative Intent.
The provisions of this chapter are intended to assist with the enforcement of the
regulatory provisions of Chapters 13-2, "Campaign Financing Disclosure" and 13-3,
"Campaign Activities," B.R.C. 1981. The procedures set forth in this chapter are not
exclusive and shall supplement other applicable enforcement provisions.
13-4-2 Allegation of Election Code Violation
(a) A request for action stating that any provision of Chapter 13-2,
"Campaign Financing Disclosure" or Chapter 13-3, "Campaign
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Activities," B.RC. 1981, of this title has been violated may be
submitted to the city clerk. The request for action shall be in writing
and must be submitted no later than forty-five days following any
election in which it is alleged that the misconduct occurred. The
request for action shall:
(1) Request that the city attorney file a civil action;
(2) Identify the particular provisions of Chapter 13-2,
"Campaign Financing Disclosure" or Chapter 13-3,
"Campaign Activities," B.R.C. 1981, that allegedly
were violated;
(3) State the factual basis for that allegation;
(4) Identify any relevant documents or other evidence; and
(5) Identify any witnesses or persons with relevant
knowledge.
(b) The city clerk will notify the party named in the request for action (the
"respondent") and may provide the respondent an opportunity to
provide information or otherwise respond to the allegations of the
request for action.
13-4-3 Initial Review of Request for Action
The city clerk will evaluate the request for action and all information in the clerk's
possession related to the request for action to determine whether there is probable cause
to believe that further investigation would disclose a violation by the respondent. The
city clerk may, at the clerk's discretion, consult with the city attorney or delegated legal
counsel regarding this review. Such determination shall be made based upon the request
for action, any information provided by the person who filed the request for action or
the party named in the request for action, and upon such additional information as the
clerk may determine to be pertinent.
13-4-4 Denial of Request for Action by City Clerk
If the city clerk determines that no probable cause exists that further investigation
would disclose a violation by the respondent, the city clerk shall close the file with
regard to the matter. In that event, the city clerk shall so notify both the complainant
and the respondent. Such notice shall be sufficient if it is accomplished by depositing it
with the United States Postal Service addressed to the last known address of the
complainant and the respondent. The city clerk may also determine that the violation, if
any, can be cured after exercise of the city manager's powers under Chapter 13-2,
"Campaign Financing Disclosure," B.R.C. 1981, and, if the violation is cured, may deny
the request for action on that basis without further review.
13-4-5 Deternimation by City Clerk Final
(a) A determination by the city clerk that there is no probable cause that
further investigation would disclose a violation by the respondent shall
be final. Cure of a violation through exercise of the city manager's
powers under Chapter 13-2, "Campaign Financing Disclosure," B.R.C.
1981, also shall be final. No appeal or review from such determinations
shall be permitted, and the city attorney will not bring any civil or
criminal enforcement action against a party in either circumstance.
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b) A determination by the city clerk that there is probable cause that
investigation will disclose a violation by the respondent shall also be
final. No defect in the city clerk's detennination shall constitute a
defense at any hearing held by a city clerk or at any judicial enforcement
proceeding.
13-4-6 Power of City Clerk to Hold Hearings
The city clerk is empowered to receive evidence and make recommendations with
regard to any request for action. The purpose of such hearings will be to determine
whether sufficient evidence of a violation by the respondent exists to warrant bringing a
civil or criminal action. The city clerk may schedule hearings, mandate the appearance
of witnesses through the issuance of subpoenas and mandate the provision of
documents through the issuance of subpoenas for documents. Subpoenas for documents
may be directed to any custodian of records or to any other person possessing or
controlling such records.
13-4-7 Hearing Procedures
The following procedures shall be used by the city clerk in any hearing:
(a) The city clerk shall fix the date, time, duration, and place of each
hearing;
(b) The complainant and the respondent may each be represented by
counsel or other authorized representative;
(c) The city clerk may receive and consider testimony under oath, as well
as evidence of witnesses by affidavit, giving such evidence only such
weight as seems proper after consideration of any objection made to its
admission;
(d) The legal rules of evidence need not be strictly applied by the city
clerk. The city clerk shall accept or reject evidence based upon the city
clerk's evaluation of the reliability of that evidence; and
(e) The city clerk may refer to the provisions in Chapter 1-3, "Quasi-
Judicial Hearings," B.R.C. 1981, relating to quasi-judicial hearings, for
guidance with respect to procedures that may be utilized at any hearing
held pursuant to this section. However, final decisions regarding such
procedures shall be determined by the city clerk in conformity with the
intent of these provisions and in a manner consistent with general
principles of due process.
13-4-8 Negative Determination by City Clerk
If, upon completion of the city clerk's evaluation of evidence, the city clerk determines
that there is insufficient evidence of a violation by the respondent to warrant bringing a
civil or criminal action, the investigation shall be terminated concerning that
respondent. In that event, the city clerk shall notify both the complainant and the
respondent of this determination. Such notice shall be sufficient if it is deposited with
the United States Postal Service addressed to the last known address of the complainant
and the respondent.
13-4-9 Power of City Clerk to Issue Remedial Order or Warning Letter
BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 66
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
If, upon completion of the hearing process, the city clerk determines that sufficient
evidence exists to bring a civil or criminal action, the city clerk may direct the
respondent to take remedial actions including, without limitation, the following:
(a) Filing a corrected disclosure form;
(b) Publishing corrective advertising;
(c) Refunding any private contributions obtained under false pretenses;
and
(d) Refunding to the city any public monies inappropriately obtained for
the financing of election activities.
The city clerk may also issue the respondent a warning letter. The city attorney may bring
a civil action following compliance with a remedial order as described in subsections (a)
through (d) above for the purpose of incorporating the terms of the order into a consent
decree. Otherwise, a warning letter or compliance by the respondent with a remedial
order will end the process, and no civil or criminal action will be filed.
13-4-10 Referral to City Attorney for Criminal or Civil Prosecution
If upon completion of the formal hearing process, the city clerk determines that
sufficient evidence exists to bring a civil or criminal action and if the matter is not
resolved through a warning letter or compliance with a remedial order issued by the city
clerk, the matter shall be referred to the city attorney and delegated legal counsel. In
such an instance, the city attorney or delegated legal counsel will evaluate the case to
determine whether or not criminal prosecution or the bringing of a civil enforcement
action is in the public interest.
13-4-11 Remedies Not Exclusive
The procedures set forth by these provisions shall not impair the right of any interested
party, including the city clerk, the city attorney, or a complainant, to notify the district
attorney or the police of crimes that might be investigated or potentially prosecuted by
those agencies. Nor shall these provisions preclude the city attorney from bringing
criminal charges without first exhausting the administrative hearing process set forth in
these provisions if the city attorney feels that there is sufficient basis for a criminal
prosecution and that the interests of justice require prosecution prior to exhaustion of
the administrative process described in these provisions.
13-4-12 No Appeal to City Council
No decision by the city clerk made pursuant to this chapter shall be reviewed or
reversed by the city council. The city council shall not become involved in the handling
of any matter brought or investigated pursuant to these provisions. Nothing in this
chapter shall be deemed to create a right of appeal to the city council by a person named
in a request for action.
13-4-13 Confidentiality of Investigation
The contents of files relating to pending inquiries or investigations into possible
violations of the provisions of Chapter 13-2, "Campaign Financing Disclosure" or
Chapter 13-3, "Campaign Activities," B.R.C. 1981, shall not be made public by the city
clerk, the city attorney, or by any other person or agency that is conducting an official
investigation on the part of the city into alleged or possible violations of this type. Nor
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
will any preliminary reports or drafts relating to the results of such investigations be
made public. The city council finds that such disclosures could compromise criminal
justice investigations. Further, the city council finds that such disclosures would be
contrary to the public interest because such disclosures might have the effect of
politically damaging a person or interest in a case in which the final disposition of an
investigation would not sustain a finding of misconduct. The release of interim findings
or draft reports might in that manner interfere with the appropriate workings of the
democratic process.
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CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III
ARTICLE III. ELECTIONS
ARTICLE III. ELECTIONS
Sec. 22. Municipal elections defined.
A general municipal election shall be held in the City of Boulder on the first Tuesday in November of every odd numbered year,
and shall be known as the general municipal election. All other municipal elections shall be known as special municipal
elections. (Amended by Ord. No. 7412 (2005), 2, adopted by electorate on March 8, 2005.)
Sec. 23. Nomination by petition-requirements of petitions.
All elective officers of the city shall be nominated by petition which shall consist of the candidate's consent, the prayer and
signatures of the petitioners, and the city clerk's certificate of petition. Each petition shall be on a separate paper, of uniform size,
to be provided by the city clerk, and shall contain the name of but one candidate. No elector shall sign petitions for more
candidates than the number of places of that particular designation to be filled at the election; and should an elector do so, said
elector's signature shall be void as to the petition or petitions which said elector last signed.
Sec. 24. Candidate's affidavit of consent.
Before any petition is filed with the city clerk, the candidate whose name appears on said petition shall appear before the city
clerk and take the oath (or affirmation) which appears on the form of petition herein set forth.
Sec. 25. Requirements for signing petitions.
Before signing a petition of nomination, each person shall take oath (or affirmation) before the city clerk that the representations
set forth in the petition are true and shall sign such person's name thereto in a space designated by the city clerk, together with
such person's residence, street and mmnber, place of business, and the date of signing.*
Sec. 26. City clerk's certificate of petition.
When a petition of nomination shall have been signed by not less than twenty-five and not more than thirty-five qualified and
duly registered electors, and not later than the seventy-first day before the pending municipal election, the city clerk shall check
such petition with the official registration list, determine its sufficiency; and, if sufficient, shall append the clerk's certification of
petition, and file the completed petition in the clerk's office, together with the date and certificate of the filing thereof. The
petition may be amended to correct or replace signatures which the clerk finds not in apparent confornity with the requirements
of this charter and any applicable ordinance at any time prior to the sixty-sixth day before the election. (Amended by Ord. No.
3925 (1973), 1, adopted by electorate on September 11, 1973. Further amended by Ord. No. 5576 (1993), 1, adopted by
electorate on November 2, 1993.)*
Sec. 27. Form of nomination petition.
CANDIDATE'S CONSENT
State of Colorado, )
County of Boulder, )ss.
City of Boulder. )
I, (name of candidate), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am a qualified elector of the City of Boulder and that on the date of
the next general municipal election, I will be not less than twenty-one years of age and will have been a resident of the City of
Boulder for one year immnnediately prior thereto and that if legally nominated, I will stand as candidate for council member at the
general municipal election to be held on A.D.
(Candidate's signature)
CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III PAGE 69
COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
day of , A.D.
City Clerk
(CITY SEAL)
ELECTORS' PETITION
We, the undersigned electors of the City of Boulder, hereby nominate whose residence is
, whose place of business is at , for office of , to be voted upon
at the election to be held in the City of Boulder on the day of and we individually
swear (or affirm) that we are qualified to vote for a candidate for the above office, and that we have not signed more nomination
petitions of candidates for this office than there are persons to be elected thereto; and we fiuther swear (or affirm) that we join in
this petition for the nomination of the above named person upon the condition that the said has not become a
candidate as the nominee or representative of, nor because of any promised support from, any political party, or from any person
or firm or combined interests in any measure or franchise.
Names of Place of Date of Check Mark
No. Electors Residence Business Signature by Clerk
1.
2.
3.
35.
CITY CLERK'S CERTIFICATION OF PETITION
State of Colorado, )
County of Boulder, )ss.
City of Boulder. )
I hereby certify that each and every person whose signature appears on this petition personally appeared before me on the day
and date set opposite such person's name, was duly sworn as to the matters set forth in said petition, and signed such person's
name as petitioner for the purpose above set forth; and I further certify that I have examined the official registration list of
persons qualified to vote at the next ensuing municipal election named in such petition; that (state the number) of the above
petitioners appear as duly qualified and registered electors in the City of Boulder; and that to the best of my knowledge and belief
this petition is sufficient.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the City of Boulder this (twenty-second day before election)
day of , A.D.
City Clerk.
(CITY SEAL)*
(Amended by Ord. No. 3925 (1973), 1, adopted by electorate on September 11, 1973. Further amended by Ord. No. 6006 (1998)1
2, adopted by electorate on November 3, 1998).
Sec. 28. Time of completing the petition.
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A petition of nomination shall be completed and filed in the office of the city clerk not earlier than ninety-one nor later than
seventy-one days before the election. (Amended by Ord. No. 3925 (1973), 1, adopted by electorate on September 11, 1973.
Further amended by Ord. No. 5576 (1993), 1, adopted by electorate on November 2, 1993.)
Sec. 29. Withdrawal from nomination.
Airy person having been duly and regularly nominated as herein provided, may, prior to the sixty-sixth day preceding the election
for which such person has been nominated, withdraw from such nomination by filing with the city clerk a sworn statement of
such withdrawal. (Amended by Ord. No. 3925 (1973), 1, adopted by electorate on September 11, 1973. Further amended by Ord.
No. 5576 (1993), 1, adopted by electorate on November 2, 1993.)*
Sec. 30. Preservation and filing of petitions.
The city clerk shall preserve and file in the clerk's office for a period of six years all petitions of nomination and all certificates,
acceptances, and withdrawals belonging thereto.*
Sec. 31. Election notices.
The city clerk shall prior to the fifty-fifth day before the election certify a list of the candidates so nominated for office at such
election, whose names are entitled to appear upon the ballot as being the list of candidates nominated as required by this charter,
together with the offices to be filled at such election, designating whether such election shall be for a fiill or unexpired teen; and
the clerk shall file in the clerk's office said certified list of names with residence and business addresses and the offices so to be
filled, and the clerk shall cause to be published a notice calling such election, for five successive days before such election, in one
daily newspaper of general circulation and published in the City of Boulder, which notice shall contain a list of said names of
candidates, with residence, place of business, the offices to be filled, the time when and the places at which such election shall be
held. (Amended by Ord. No. 3925 (1973), 1, adopted by electorate on September 11, 1973. Further amended by Ord. No. 4773
(1983), 1, adopted by electorate on November 8, 1983. Further amended by Ord. No. 5576 (1993), 1, adopted by electorate on
November 2, 1993.)*
Sec. 32. General election regulations.
The provisions of any and all laws of the State of Colorado now or hereafter in force, except as the council may otherwise by
ordinance provide, or as may be otherwise herein provided, relating to the qualification and registration of electors, the manner of
voting, the duties of election officers, and all other particulars in respect to the management of elections, insofar as the same may
be applicable, shall govern all municipal elections; provided, that the city council, exclusive of such members thereof as are
candidates at the then pending election, shall constitute the general canvassing and election board and shall meet and duly
canvass the election returns, as certified by the precinct or district election officials, which returns and certifications shall be in
accordance with the provisions of this charter. If at any time the number of council members eligible to serve on the general
canvassing and election board be less than five, it shall be the duty of the city council at a regular meeting prior to the day of
election, by resolution duly entered on its records, to designate a sufficient number of qualified electors, not candidates at such
election, to sit with the eligible members of the council on such board so that the said board in sitting shall never consist of less
than five; and, provided further, that the city council of the present existing government of the City of Boulder, together with
such qualified electors as may be by them designated, shall constitute the general canvassing and election board for the purpose
of canvassing and determining the result of the first election to be held hereunder. Said board shall have power to appoint such
clerks and assistants as may be necessary to canvass the vote. The council shall make the necessary appropriation to meet the
expenses of such clerks and assistants.
The city clerk or a duly authorized assistant shall act as secretary of the board of canvassers, and shall spread the result on a
record kept for the purpose, and shall issue such certificates, under the seal of the city, as the circumstances may warrant and
necessitate.*
Sec. 33. Voting machines.
In all general and special municipal elections held in the City of Boulder for any purpose whatsoever, the ballots or votes may be
cast, registered, recorded, and counted by means of voting machines. No voting machine shall be used, purchased, or leased by
the City of Boulder unless it shall be so constructed as to fulfill the following requirements: that it affords each elector an
opportunity to vote in absolute secrecy; that it is closed during the progress of the voting so that no person can see or know the
number of votes registered for any candidate or for whom the elector has voted; that it be capable of containing on the face
thereof the form of ballot made up and arranged substantially in the manner prescribed hereinafter for the election of council
members, for voting on initiated or referred measures, for voting on the question of issuance of bonds, for voting on the granting
of fianchises, for voting on the amendments to the charter or for any other purpose; that it prevents the voter from voting for a
candidate or on a question for whom or on which such voter is not lawfidly entitled to vote; that it enables each voter to vote for
CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III PAGE 71
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all candidates for whom such voter is entitled to vote and prevents such voter from voting for any candidate for any office more
than once unless such voter is lawfully entitled to cast more than one vote for each candidate, and in that event permits such voter
to cast only as many votes for that candidate as such voter is by law entitled, and no more; that it be provided with at least twenty
pairs of "for" and "against" counters for voting on questions or propositions to be submitted in accordance with law, with the
operating of voting devices therefor; that such machine will correctly register by means of exact mechanical counters each vote
cast for candidates whose names appear on the ballot labels or for questions appearing thereon; that each machine be provided
with a lock or locks, the keys of which cannot be interchangeably used, and by locking of which any movement of the operating
mechanism can be prevented, so that it cannot be tampered with or manipulated for any fraudulent purpose; that the machine is
susceptible of being closed during the progress of the voting so that no person call see or know the number of votes registered for
any candidate; that there shall be a counter on each machine, the registering face of which can be seen at all times from the
outside of the machine, which will show during the election the total number of voters who have operated the machine at that
election; that it shall have a protective counter or other device, the register of which cannot be reset, which shall record the
cumulative total number of movements of the operating mechanism. The provisions of any and all state laws now or hereinafter
in force relating to the use of voting machines at elections, except as the council may otherwise by ordinance provide, shall
govern the management of voting machines in elections.
All the provisions of this charter relating to elections and any and all laws of the State of Colorado now or hereafter in force and
not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter shall apply to all elections held in election districts or precincts where voting
machines are used. Any provisions of this charter heretofore in force which conflict with the use of voting machines as herein set
forth shall not apply to precincts in which an election is conducted by the use of voting machines. Nothing in this charter,
however, shall be construed as prohibiting the use of separate paper ballots, if need be, for the purpose of conducting any special
or general municipal election in the City of Boulder. (Repealed by Ord. No. 1474 (1947), 1, adopted by electorate on November
4, 1947. Reenacted by Ord. No. 1826 (1954), 1, adopted by electorate on October 26, 1954.)*
Sec. 34. Electors-form and marking of ballot.
The members of the city council shall be elected by votes cast by qualified electors as provided by the laws of the State of
Colorado and the charter and ordinances of the City of Boulder. The form of ballot at such election shall be such that all of the
duly nominated candidates for council shall be listed on a single ballot in alphabetical order with a reference to the surname of
said candidates, and voting shall be by placing a cross (X) opposite the name of each candidate voted for, not to exceed the total
number of council members to be elected. If any ballot shall contain more crossmarked candidates than there are council
members to be elected, said ballot shall be void and not counted. (Repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 1474 (1947), 1, adopted
by electorate on November 4, 1947.)*
Sec. 35. Counting ballots.
There shall be but one list of candidates for both the full regular terms to be filled and any parts of terns to which there is a
vacancy which is to be filled. The candidates having the highest number of votes to the number that there are full regular terms to
be filled shall be declared elected to those terms. If there is a vacancy tern or terns to be filled, then the candidate or candidates
having the next highest number of votes to the number that there are vacancy terms to be filled shall be declared elected, the one
having the highest number of votes to fill the longest vacancy tern and the one having the next highest to have the next longest
vacancy tern, until all vacancy terms are filled. There shall be no choice or preference between voting for candidates, but all
votes shall be of equal value, and every voter shall be allowed to vote for as many council members as there are council members
to be elected. (Repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 1474 (1947), 1, adopted by electorate on November 4, 1947.)*
Sec. 36. Expenditure of money on elections.
(Amended by Ord. No. 2263 (1959), 1, adopted by electorate oil November 3, 1959.)*
(Repealed by Ord. No. 5219 (1989), 1, adopted by electorate on November 7, 1989.)
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COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT
ELECTIONS
ARTICLE 7.5
MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS
1-7.5-101. Short title.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Mail Ballot Election Act".
1-7.5-102. Legislative declaration.
The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that self-government by
election is more legitimate and better accepted as voter participation increases. The general
assembly further finds, determines, and declares that mail ballot elections are cost-efficient and
have not resulted in increased fraud. By enacting this article, the general assembly hereby
concludes that it is appropriate to provide for mail ballot elections under specified circumstances.
1-7.5-103. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Designated election official" means official as defined in section 1-1-104 (8).
(2) "Election" means any election under the "Uniform Election Code of 1992" or the
"Colorado Municipal Election Code of 1965", article 10 of title 31, C.R.S.
(3) "Election day" means the date either established by law or determined by the governing
body of the political subdivision conducting the election, to be the final day on which all ballots
are determined to be due, and the date from which all other dates in this article are set.
(4) "Mail ballot election" means an election for which eligible electors may cast ballots by
mail and in accordance with this article in an election that involves only nonpartisan candidates
or ballot questions or ballot issues.
(5) "Mail ballot packet" means the packet of information provided by the designated election
official to eligible electors in the mail ballot election. The packet includes the ballot, instructions
for completing the ballot, a secrecy envelope, and a return envelope.
(6) "Political subdivision" means a governing subdivision of the state, including counties,
municipalities, school districts, and special districts.
(7) "Return envelope" means an envelope that is printed with spaces for the name and
address of, and a self-affirmation to be signed by, an eligible elector voting in a mail ballot
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election, that contains a secrecy envelope and ballot for the elector, and that is designed to allow
election officials, upon examining the signature, name, and address on the outside of the
envelope, to determine whether the enclosed ballot is being submitted by an eligible elector who
has not previously voted in that particular election.
(8) "Secrecy envelope" means the envelope used for a mail ballot election that contains the
eligible elector's ballot for the election, and that is designed to conceal and maintain the
confidentiality of the elector's vote until the counting of votes for that particular election.
1-7.5-104. Mail ballot elections - optional.
(1) If the governing board of any political subdivision determines that an election shall be by
mail ballot, the designated election official for the political subdivision shall conduct any
election for the political subdivision by mail ballot under the supervision of the secretary of state
and shall be subject to rules which shall be promulgated by the secretary of state.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, a mail ballot election
shall not be held for:
(a) Elections or recall elections that involve partisan candidates;
(b) Elections held in conjunction with, or on the same day as, a primary or congressional
vacancy election.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary concerning the type of
election to be held, elections by mail ballot shall be conducted as provided in this article.
1-7.5-105. Pre-election process.
(1) The designated election official responsible for conducting an election that is to be by
mail ballot pursuant to section 1-7.5-104 (1) shall notify the secretary of state no later than fifty-
five days prior to the election. The notification shall include a proposed plan for conducting the
mail ballot election, which may be based on the standard plan adopted by the secretary of state.
(2) The secretary of state shall approve or disapprove the written plan for conducting a mail
ballot election, in accordance with section 1-7.5-106, within fifteen days after receiving the plan
and shall provide a written notice to the affected political subdivision.
(3) The designated election official shall supervise the distributing, handling, counting of
ballots, and the survey of returns in accordance with rules promulgated by the secretary of state
as provided in section 1-7.5-106 (2) and shall take the necessary steps to protect the
confidentiality of the ballots cast and the integrity of the election.
(4) No elector information shall be delivered in the form of a sample ballot.
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1-7.5-106. Secretary of state - duties and powers.
(1) In addition to any other duties prescribed by law, the secretary of state, with advice from
election officials of the several political subdivisions, shall:
(a) Prescribe the form of materials to be used in the conduct of mail ballot elections; except
that all mail ballot packets shall include a ballot, instructions for completing the ballot, a secrecy
envelope, and a return envelope;
(b) Establish procedures for conducting mail ballot elections; except that the procedures shall
be consistent with section 1-7.5-107;
(c) Supervise the conduct of mail ballot elections by the election officials as provided in
section 1-7.5-105 (3).
(2) In addition to other powers prescribed by law, the secretary of state may adopt rules
governing procedures and forms necessary to implement this article and may appoint any county
clerk and recorder as an agent of the secretary to carry out the duties prescribed in this article.
1-7.5-107. Procedures for conducting mail ballot election - first-time voters casting a
mail ballot after having registered by mail to vote.
(1) Official ballots shall be prepared and all other pre-election procedures followed as
otherwise provided by law or rules promulgated by the secretary of state; except that mail ballot
packets shall be prepared in accordance with this article.
(2) (a) Except for coordinated elections conducted as a mail ballot election where the county
clerk and recorder is the coordinated election official, no later than thirty days prior to election
day, the county clerk and recorder shall submit to the designated election official of the political
subdivision conducting the mail ballot election a full and complete preliminary list of registered
electors. For special district mail ballot elections, the county clerk and recorder and county
assessor of each county in which a special district is located shall certify and submit to the
designated election official a list of property owners and a list of registered electors residing
within the affected district.
(b) No later than twenty days prior to election day, the county clerk and recorder and county
assessor required to submit a preliminary list in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection
(2) shall submit to the appropriate authority a supplemental list of the names of eligible electors
or property owners whose names were not included on the preliminary list.
(c) All lists of registered electors and lists of property owners provided to a designated
election official under this section shall include the last mailing address of each elector.
(2.5) (a) No later than twenty days before an election, the designated election official, or the
coordinated election official if so provided by an intergovernmental agreement, shall provide
notice by publication of a mail ballot election conducted pursuant to the provisions of this article,
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which notice shall state, as applicable for the particular election for which the notice is provided,
the items set forth in section 1-5-205 (1) (a) to (1) (d).
(b) The notice required to be given by this subsection (2.5) shall be in lieu of the notice
requirements set forth in sections 1-5-205 (1) and 31-10-501 (1), C.R.S., as applicable for the
particular election for which such notice is required.
(3) (a) Not sooner than twenty-five days before an election, and no later than fifteen days
before an election, the designated election official shall mail to each active registered elector, at
the last mailing address appearing in the registration records and in accordance with United
States postal service regulations, a mail ballot packet, which shall be marked "DO NOT
FORWARD. ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED", or any other similar statement that is
in accordance with United States postal service regulations; except that with prior approval from
the secretary of state, the packets shall be sent no later than ten days before election day.
(b) The ballot or ballot label shall contain the following warning:
"WARNING:
Any person who, by use of force or other means, unduly influences an eligible
elector to vote in any particular manner or to refrain from voting, or who falsely
makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any mail ballot before or after it has been
cast, or who destroys, defaces, mutilates, or tampers with a ballot is subject, upon
conviction, to imprisonment, or to a fine, or both."
(b.5) (I) The return envelope shall have printed on it a self-affirmation substantially in the
following form:
"I state under penalty of perjury that I am an eligible elector; that my signature,
name, and address are as shown on this envelope; that I have not and will not cast any
vote in this election except by the enclosed ballot; and that my ballot is enclosed in
accord with the provisions of the "Uniform Election Code of 1992".
Date Signature of voter"
(II) The signing of the self-affirmation on the return envelope shall constitute an affirmation
by the eligible elector, under penalty of perjury, that the facts stated in the self-affirmation are
true. If the eligible elector is unable to sign, the eligible elector may affirm by making a mark on
the self-affirmation, with or without assistance, witnessed by another person.
(c) No sooner than twenty-five days prior to election day, nor later than 7 p.m. on election
day, mail ballots shall be made available at the designated election official's office, or the office
designated in the mail ballot plan filed with the secretary of state, for eligible electors who are
not listed or who are listed as "Inactive" on the county voter registration records or, for special
district mail ballot elections, on the list of property owners or the registration list but who are
authorized to vote pursuant to section 32-1-806, C.R.S., or other applicable law.
(d) (1) An eligible elector may obtain a replacement ballot if the ballot was destroyed,
spoiled, lost, or for some other reason not received by the eligible elector. An eligible elector
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COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003
may obtain a ballot if a mail ballot packet was not sent to the elector because the eligibility of the
elector could not be determined at the time the mail ballot packets were mailed. In order to
obtain a ballot in such cases, the eligible elector must sign a sworn statement specifying the
reason for requesting the ballot. The statement shall be presented to the designated election
official no later than 7 p.m. on election day. The designated election official shall keep a record
of each ballot issued in accordance with this paragraph (d) together with a list of each ballot
obtained pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (3).
(II) A designated election official shall not transmit a mail ballot packet under this paragraph
(d) unless a sworn statement requesting the ballot is received on or before election day. A ballot
may be transmitted directly to the eligible elector requesting the ballot at the designated election
official's office or the office designated in the mail ballot plan filed with the secretary of state or
may be mailed to the eligible elector at the address provided in the sworn statement. Ballots may
be cast no later than 7 p.m. on election day.
(3.5) (a) Subject to the requirements of section 1-2-501 (2), the requirements of this
subsection (3.5) shall apply to any person who has registered to vote by mail in accordance with
part 5 of article 2 of this title and who:
(I) Has not previously voted in an election in Colorado; or
(II) Is reregistering to vote after moving from one county in this state to another and the
election in which the person intends to vote takes place prior to the creation by the department of
state of a computerized statewide voter registration list that satisfies the requirements of part 3 of
article 2 of this title.
(b) Any person who matches either of the descriptions specified in subparagraph (I) or (II) of
paragraph (a) of this subsection (3.5) and intends to cast his or her ballot by mail in accordance
with this article shall submit with his or her mail ballot a copy of identification within the
meaning of section 1-1-104 (19.5).
(c) The designated election official shall include with the mail ballot packet required by
paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section written instructions advising an elector who
matches the description specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (3.5) of the manner in which
the elector shall be in compliance with the requirements contained in paragraph (a) of this
subsection (3.5).
(d) Any person who desires to cast his or her ballot by mail but does not satisfy the
requirements of paragraph (c) of this subsection (3.5) may cast such ballot by mail and the ballot
shall be treated as a provisional ballot in accordance with the requirements of part 3 of article 9
of this title.
(e) The requirements of this subsection (3.5) shall be implemented by state and local election
officials in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner.
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(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements of this subsection (3.5) shall
not apply to any person who is:
(I) Entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the federal "Uniformed and Overseas Citizens
Absentee Voting Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1973ff et seq.;
(II) Provided the right to vote otherwise than in person under section (b) (2) (B) (ii) of the
federal "Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1973ee-1; or
(III) Entitled to vote otherwise than in person under any other federal law.
(4) (a) Upon receipt of a ballot, the eligible elector shall mark the ballot, sign and complete
the self-affirmation on the return envelope, enclose identification if required by subsection (3.5)
of this section, and comply with the instructions provided with the ballot.
(b) The eligible elector may return the marked ballot to the designated election official by
United States mail or by depositing the ballot at the office of the official or any place designated
by the official. The ballot must be returned in the return envelope. If an eligible elector returns
the ballot by mail, the elector must provide postage. The ballot shall be received at the office of
the designated election official or a designated depository, which shall remain open until 7 p.m.
on election day. For an election coordinated by the county clerk and recorder, the depository
shall be designated by the county clerk and recorder and located in a secure place under the
supervision of a municipal clerk, an election judge or a member of the clerk and recorder's staff.
For an election not coordinated by the county clerk and recorder, the depository shall be
designated by the designated election official and located in a secure place under the supervision
of the designated election official, an election judge, or another person designated by the
designated election official.
(c) and (d) Repealed.
(5) (a) Once the ballot is returned, an election judge shall first qualify the submitted ballot by
comparing the information on the return envelope with the registration records to determine
whether the ballot was submitted by an eligible elector who has not previously voted in the
election. If the ballot so qualifies and is otherwise valid, the election judge shall indicate in the
poll book that the eligible elector cast a ballot and deposit the ballot in an official ballot box.
(b) If the return envelope received from an eligible elector described in subsection (3.5) of
this section does not contain identification, the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot and
shall be verified and counted in accordance with section 1-9-303.
(c) For November coordinated elections only, the signature of the eligible elector on the
return envelope shall be compared with the signature of the eligible elector on file in the office of
the county clerk and recorder in accordance with section 1-7.5-107.3.
(6) All deposited ballots shall be counted as provided in this article and by rules promulgated
by the secretary of state. A mail ballot shall be valid and counted only if it is returned in the
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return envelope, the self-affirmation on the return envelope is signed and completed by the
eligible elector to whom the ballot was issued, and the information on the return envelope is
verified in accordance with subsection (5) of this section. Mail ballots shall be counted in the
same manner provided by section 1-7-307 for counting paper ballots or section 1-7-507 for
counting electronic ballots. If the election official determines that an eligible elector to whom a
replacement ballot has been issued has voted more than once, the official shall not count any
ballot cast by the elector. Rejected ballots shall be handled in the same manner as provided in
section 1-8-310.
1-7.5-107.3. Verification of signatures - November coordinated elections.
(1) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1), in every mail ballot
election that is a November coordinated election held in 2005 or any subsequent year, an election
judge shall compare the signature on the self-affirmation on each return envelope with the
signature of the eligible elector on file in the office of the county clerk and recorder in
accordance with subsection (2) of this section.
(b) For the mail ballot election that is a November coordinated election held in 2003, the
election judge shall compare in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) only those
signatures that are in the county clerk and recorder's database no later than 7 p.m. on election
day.
(2) (a) If, upon comparing the signature of an eligible elector on the self-affirmation on the
return envelope with the signature of the eligible elector on file with the county clerk and
recorder, the election judge determines that the signatures do not match, two other election
judges of different political party affiliations shall simultaneously compare the signatures. If both
other election judges agree that the signatures do not match, the county clerk and recorder shall,
within three days after election day, send to the eligible elector at the address indicated in the
registration records a letter explaining the discrepancy in signatures and a form for the eligible
elector to confirm that the elector returned a ballot to the county clerk and recorder. If the county
clerk and recorder receives the form within ten days after election day confirming that the elector
returned a ballot to the county clerk and recorder and enclosing a copy of the elector's
identification as defined in section 1-1-104 (19.5), and if the ballot is otherwise valid, the ballot
shall be counted. If the eligible elector returns the form indicating that the elector did not return a
ballot to the county clerk and recorder, or if the eligible elector does not return the form within
ten days after election day, the self-affirmation on the return envelope shall be categorized as
incorrect, the ballot shall not be counted, and the county clerk and recorder shall send copies of
the eligible elector's signature on the return envelope and the signature on file with the county
clerk and recorder to the district attorney for investigation.
(b) An original return envelope with an enclosed secrecy envelope containing a voted ballot
that is not counted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) shall be stored under
seal in the office of the county clerk and recorder in a secure location separate from valid return
envelopes and may be removed only under the authority of the district attorney or by order of a
court having jurisdiction.
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(c) In the case of a disagreement among the election judges as to whether the signature of an
eligible elector on the self-affirmation on the return envelope matches the signature of the
eligible elector on file with the county clerk and recorder pursuant to the procedures specified in
paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), the mail ballot contained in the return envelope shall be
counted in accordance with the requirements of sections 1-7.5-107 (6) and 1-7.5-107.5.
(3) If the election judge determines that the signature of an eligible elector on the self-
affirmation matches the elector's signature on file with the county clerk and recorder, the election
judge shall follow the procedures specified in section 1-7.5-107 (5) and (6) concerning the
qualification and counting of mail ballots.
(4) (a) An election judge shall not determine that the signature of an eligible elector on the
self-affirmation does not match the signature of that eligible elector on file with the county clerk
and recorder solely on the basis of substitution of initials or use of a common nickname.
(b) The designated election official may provide training in the technique and standards of
signature comparison to election judges who compare signatures pursuant to this section.
1-7.5-107.5. Counting mail ballots.
The election officials at the mail ballot counting place may receive and prepare mail ballots
delivered and turned over to them by the designated election official for tabulation. Counting of
the mail ballots may begin ten days prior to the election and continue until counting is
completed. The election official in charge of the mail ballot counting place shall take all
precautions necessary to ensure the secrecy of the counting procedures, and no information
concerning the count shall be released by the election officials or watchers until after 7 p.m. on
election day.
1-7.5-108. Absentee mail ballots.
Provisions for the allowance of and procedures for absentee ballots shall be determined by
rules promulgated by the secretary of state.
1-7.5-109. Write-in candidates.
Write-in candidates shall be allowed on mail ballot elections provided that the candidate has
filed an affidavit of intent with the designated election official pursuant to section 1-4-1101.
Ballots for write-in candidates are to be counted pursuant to section 1-7-114.
1-7.5-110. Challenges.
Votes cast pursuant to this article may be challenged pursuant to and in accordance with law.
Any mail ballot election held pursuant to this article shall not be invalidated on the grounds that
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an eligible elector did not receive a ballot so long as the designated election official for the
political subdivision conducting the election acted in good faith in complying with the provisions
of this article or with rules promulgated by the secretary of state.
1-7.5-111. Report to the general assembly. (Repealed)
1-7.5-112. Repeal of article. (Repealed)
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