The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2011 General Election Committee Guidelines „r► Committee (Unofficial, Issue and Political) Guidelines for the 2011 General Municipal Election GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION November 1, 2011 City of Boulder Office of the City Clerk - City VW of j Boulder Office of the City Clerk Alisa Lewis, CMC July 21, 2011 This booklet has been prepared as a general guide for committees participating in the City of Boulder's November 1, 2011 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 at 303-441-3013. In addition, information is available on the City Website at: http://www.bouldereolorado.gov/elections We look forward to assisting you in this 2011 General Municipal Election. Sincerely, Alisa D. Lewis Director of Support Services/City Clerk 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 forli. 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. 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 11 Individual contributor .........................................................................................................11 In-kind contribution ............................................................................................................11 Issue ....................................................................................................................................12 Issue committee ..................................................................................................................12 Official candidate committee ..............................................................................................12 Person .................................................................................................................................12 Political committee .............................................................................................................12 Unofficial candidate committee ..........................................................................................12 Campaign Finance Reform (CFR) Initiative 13 Background .........................................................................................................................13 Who Is Impacted By CFR Initiative ...................................................................................13 Text of CFR Initiative .........................................................................................................13 CFR Election Parameters for 2011 General Municipal Election ........................................16 Unofficial Candidate Committees 17 Organizing an Unofficial Candidate Committee ................................................................17 Establishing a Campaign Bank Account ............................................................................17 Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................17 Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................18 Required Forms .....................................................................................................18 Dues Dates for Independent Expenditures ............................................................18 Changes to Information Submitted ........................................................................18 Unexpended Campaign Contributions ................................................................................18 Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Unofficial Candidate Committees ........................19 Issue Committees 20 Organizing an Issue Committee ..........................................................................................20 Establishing a Campaign Bank Account ............................................................................20 Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................20 Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................20 Required Forms .....................................................................................................21 Changes to Information Submitted 21 Unexpended Campaign Contributions ................................................................................21 Summary of Forms and Due Dates for Issue Committees ..................................................22 Political Committees 23 Organizing a Political Committee .......................................................................................23 Expenditure Limits .............................................................................................................23 Filing Requirements ............................................................................................................23 Independent Expenditures Greater Than $200 24 Individuals ..........................................................................................................................24 Unofficial Candidate Committees and Political Committees .............................................24 Due Dates for Independent Expenditures ...........................................................................24 Independent Expenditures Made Before 5:00 p.m. on October 11, 2011 .............24 Independent Expenditures Made After 5:00 p.m. on October 11 and Before 7:00 a.m. on October 31 24 Independent Expenditures Made On Day Before or Day of Election 24 Disclosure Requirements ....................................................................................................24 Record Keeping & Accountability .....................................................................................25 Limits on Contributions 26 Limits on Contributions for Unofficial Candidate Cominittees .........................................26 Anonymous Contributions ..................................................................................................26 Candidates Not Receiving Matching Funds. Their Candidate Committees & Unofficial Candidate Committees 26 Issue Committees & Political Committees ............................................................26 Contributions from City Contractors ..................................................................................27 Disclosure and Attribution Requirements 28 Election Materials & Advertising .......................................................................................28 Solicitation for Candidate Campaign Funds .......................................................................28 Restricted and Prohibited Activities 29 Restrictions on Increased Fees for Municipal Election Advertising ...................................29 Restrictions on Contributions in Another's Name ..............................................................29 Restrictions on Contributions by City Contractors .............................................................29 Restrictions on Representation of Campaign Authority .....................................................29 Violations & Filing Complaints 30 Criminal Acts & Penalties ..................................................................................................30 Civil Remedies ....................................................................................................................30 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 31 Official Candidate Committees vs. Unofficial Candidate Committees ..............................31 Contributions ......................................................................................................................32 Expenditures .......................................................................................................................33 Reporting by Committees ...................................................................................................34 Violations & Complaints ....................................................................................................34 Getting Help ........................................................................................................................35 Form Titles & Form Numbers 36 Boulder Revised Code, 1981, Title 13 37 City of Boulder Charter, Article III 61 Colorado Uniform Election Code, Excerpts Regarding Mail Ballot Elections 65 GENERAL INFORMATION Election Information on City Website This Guide is available on the City of Boulder's website at http:!hvww.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: 303.441-3013 Fax: 303.441.4478 Email: CFRAdmin(a).bouldercolorado.gov Boulder County - Voter Registration & Mail Ballot Process Information on voter registration and the mail ballot process should be directed to: Boulder County Elections 1750 33`d Street, Suite 200 Boulder, CO 80306 Telephone: 303.413.7740 Date of Election The General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2011. 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 18 days to 22 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 circumstances regarding their need for a ballot and make an address change to their voter registration GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE 7 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 2011 General Municipal Election. • All Council members, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, are compensated $185.87 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 2011 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 City Council Election (2011 General Mznicipal Election). • Committee (Unofficial, Issue and Political) Guidelines for the 2011 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 2011 Election Guides, Petition Process & Reporting Forms Thursday, July 28 Financial Reporting Training for Candidates & Committee Treasurers Thursday, August 25 Financial Reporting Training for Candidates & Committee Treasurers Thursday, September 15 Campaign Finance Disclosure The Boulder Revised Code (Sectionl3-2-1 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. Filing requirements for unofficial candidate committees, issue committees, political committees, and GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE 8 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 official 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 303-441-1875. GENERAL INFORMATION PAGE 9 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 unofficial 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 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-pennanent 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 Contribution in-kind is synonymous with in-kind contribution. KEY DEFINITIONS PAGE 10 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 predetermined 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 2011 General Municipal Election is $15,099. Fair Market Value Fair Market Value is the highest estimated price that a buyer would pay and a seller would accept for an item in an open and competitive market. 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 a 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 cominission, 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. KEY DEFINITIONS PAGE I I COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 Issue Issue is synonymous with ballot proposition. 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 different 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 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. KEY DEFINITIONS PAGE 12 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 information 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: I. 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 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. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 13 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 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 CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 14 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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. 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 15 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 CFR Election Parameters for 2011 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:......... 76,573 Per Boulder County official voter list as of January 28, 2011 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 Inflator 11 .....................-0.6% 2009 Denver-Boulder-Greeley Inflation Rate Inflator 12: 1.90%2010 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 = $15,099 (Inflated Per-voter base) x (Registered Electors) Minimum Fundraising Amount to Qualify for Matching Funds= $1,510 (10% of Expenditure Limit) Personal Contribution Limit for Candidates Receiving Matching Funds = $3,020 (20% of Expenditure Limit) Maximum Matching Funds = $7,549 (50% of Expenditure Limit) CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM (CFR) INITIATIVE PAGE 16 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- 226Z. 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 Fonm 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 rmoffrcial 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 2011 General Municipal Election the expenditure limit is $15,099. Expenditures by the candidate and by the oLcial 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. UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES PAGE 17 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 Filing Requirements 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 18, 2011, the information in the report must be complete and accurate at least as of 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2011. 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 information 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 information, 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 18 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 committee receives a contribution or 13-2-6 Connnittee Statement of obligates itself for an expenditure Organi_ation Five (5) Required Filings pins filings for any independent expenditures (See "hidependent Expenditures" section for more info.) 1. No more than 3 days after the committee receives Unofficial Candidate a contribution or obligates itself for au expenditure 13-2-9 Committee Contributions & Expenditures Statement 2. October 4, 2011 3. October 18, 2011 4. October 27, 2011 5. No later than 30 days after election (December 1) UNOFFICIAL CANDIDATE COMMITTEES PAGE 19 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. 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 roust then file it.) Consult the IRS for more information. Expenditure Limits Expenditure limits apply only to City Council candidates receiving public matching funds. Issue committees cannot make expenditures in support of or in opposition to a candidate for City Council. The same 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 forns on specified dates, whether or not contributions have been collected or expenditures made. ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 20 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 Required Forms Issue 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.im. on the second calendar day before the filing date. For example, if a report is due on October 18, 2011, the information in the report must be complete and accurate at least as of 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2011. Changes to Information Submitted If previously submitted information changes, such as a change of an officer of a committee, you must re- file the information 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 information, 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 a charitable organization (recognized under the Internal Revenue Code, §501(c)(3)) or returned to the contributor. ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 21 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 connnittee receives a contribution or 13-2-7 Issue Committee obligates itself for an expenditure, or three days after ballot Statement of Organisation certification if the conunittee has accepted contributions or made expenditures in anticipation of ballot proposition certification Five (5) Required Filings 1. 3 days after the committee receives a contribution or obligates itself for an expenditure, or three days after ballot certification if the conunittee has accepted contributions or inade expenditures Issue Committee in anticipation of ballot proposition certification 13-2-11 Contributions & Expenditures Statement 2. October 4, 2011 3. October 18, 2011 4. October 27, 201 5. No later than 30 days after election (December 1) ISSUE COMMITTEES PAGE 22 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 tiled 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 • 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 13-2-12 D. POLITICAL COMMITTEES PAGE 23 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 aU 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 13-2-12(1)). 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 11, 2011 • If an independent expenditure exceeding $200 is made before 5:00 p.m. on October 11, 2011 must be reported within three business days of obligating the funds or on October 11, 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 11, 2011. • All expenditures must be reported, but no expenditure should be reported more than once. Independent Expenditures Made After 5:00 p.m. on October I I and Before 7:00 a.m. on October 31 • Any independent expenditure exceeding $200 made between October 11 and October 31 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 expenditure exceeding $200 made on October 31 after 7:00 a.m. or on November 1 (day before and day of election), must be reported on or before December 1, 2011 (the 30th day after the election). • If a report falls due on a weekend or holiday, it must be submitted on the next business day. 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 INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES GREATER THAN $200 PAGE 24 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 funds. 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 25 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 contribrttion 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 Matching 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 26 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 27 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, tapes, websites, emails, etc. 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 contr•ibrrtions 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 28 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 snaking 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 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 29 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.R.C. 1981: • Filing required statements that knowingly contain false infonmation. • 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 cofnnnittee 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 tiling 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 30 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 their 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 expenditure 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 their has agreed to the expenditure limit as a condition of receiving public snatching 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 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%fficial 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 unofJcial 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? FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) PAGE 31 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 & Expenditures 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 unofficial 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-kind 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). In-kind contributions never involve a reimbursement. Examples of in-kind 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-kind 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. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) PAGE 32 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 The volunteer services consist of donated, uncompensated time to do the work of the campaign. The fact that a volunteer is creating something of value, such as the database, does not make it an in-kind 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 candidatelcommittee 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 or less, no additional reporting to the City is required. However, if any single independent expenditure is for more than $200, it must be reported to the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) PAGE 33 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 City Clerk's Office. An individual makes this report using the Independent 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 5200" 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 & Expenditures 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 exUenditrtre limit of $15,099 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 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).) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) PAGE 34 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 • Any unofficial candidate committee that knowingly accepts a contribution in excess of $100 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 or three times 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 $15,099 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 City Clerk's Office. (See the "General Information" section of this document for more information.) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) PAGE 35 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 FORM TITLES & FORM NUMBERS In 2009, the city began 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 EINIRS Fonn SS-4 Request for Tax Identification Number (TIN) IRS Fom1 W-9 Violation Complaint Form 13-4-2 Independent Expenditure Forms Independent Expenditure Statement for natural persons 13-2-10 FORM TITLES & FORM NUMBERS PAGE 36 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 I. 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 I-1 I, and Article 13 of Title I, 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-I-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 same 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 I- I -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 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 37 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 I-I-104(8), C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read: "Designated election official" means the city clerk. (3) Section I-I-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 I-I-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 I-I-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 I-I-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 I -109(1) and I- I -1 10(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 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. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 38 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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: 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 3 1. (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-I, "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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 39 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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. 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. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 40 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 3 I. (26) Sections 1-10-201, 202, and 203, C.R.S., are repealed and reenacted to read: 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 I-I 1-103, C.R.S., is repealed and reenacted to read: I-I 1-103. 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. Recal Is 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 I-I- 1 12 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 I of Article I-10, Sections 1-10-301 and 302; 1- I I -101 through 108, 1-11-203, 1-1 1-204 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 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. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 41 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 same 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 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. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 42 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 43 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 44 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 45 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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, 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 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 46 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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. (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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 47 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 (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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 48 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 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. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 49 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 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 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 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: BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 50 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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; (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 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. 198 1, as applicable, segregating, insofar as possible, expenditures made on the city election. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 51 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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. 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 52 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 53 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 54 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 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. 13-3-2 Campaign Advertising Requirements. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 55 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 Activities," B.R.C. 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 56 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 Determination 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 pennitted, and the city attorney will not bring any civil or criminal enforcement action against a party in either circumstance. 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 detenmination 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 57 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 The city clerk is empowered to receive evidence and make recominendations 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 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; BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 58 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 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 BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE $9 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 or draft reports might in that manner interfere with the appropriate workings of the democratic process. BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981, TITLE 13. PAGE 60 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III ARTICLE 111. 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 sigh 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 number, 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 conformity 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 immediately 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 61 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 firrther 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, ally political party, or from any person or frnm 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. CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III PAGE 62 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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. Any 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 fill 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 nnarmer 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 munber 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 fiuther, 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 call 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 fonn 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 franchises, 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 63 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 can 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 terns to be filled and any parts of terms 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 frill regular terns to be filled shall be declared elected to those terns. If there is a vacancy tern or terms to be filled, then the candidate or candidates having the next highest number of votes to the number that there are vacancy terns to be filled shall be declared elected, the one having the highest number of votes to fill the longest vacancy term and the one having the next highest to have the next longest vacancy term, 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 on November 3, 1959.)* (Repealed by Ord. No. 5219 (1989), 1, adopted by electorate on November 7, 1989.) CITY OF BOULDER CHARTER, ARTICLE III PAGE 64 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 (S). (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 COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 65 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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. COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 66 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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, COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 67 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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) (I) 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 COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 68 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. COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 69 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 70 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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 parry 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. COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 7 1 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 (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 COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 72 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003 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) COLORADO UNIFORM ELECTION CODE, EXCERPTS REGARDING MAIL BALLOT ELECTIONS PAGE 73 COMMITTEE (UNOFFICIAL, ISSUE, & POLITICAL) GUIDELINES REV. 15 JUNE 2003