Colorado Springs proposes dropping separate form for replacement ballots
A draft election-code rewrite would let eligible voters seek replacements by phone, mail, fax, in writing or in person, without a sworn statement.
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A proposed rewrite of Colorado Springs’ election code would let eligible voters request replacement municipal ballots without a separate form, using several methods including phone, mail, fax and in person. The City Council discussed the draft Nov. 9 but did not vote on it.
City Clerk Sarah B. Johnson described removing the form as the proposal’s main substantive change in the work-session discussion. Councilmember Nancy Henjum asked for a plain-language summary and a chance to meet with Johnson before a vote; Johnson agreed to provide the summary.
Under the draft election-code ordinance, a voter could request a replacement if a ballot was destroyed, spoiled, lost or not received. It also covers ballots not sent because the clerk could not determine a voter’s eligibility when packets were mailed, and other cases supported by credible evidence from the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder. The draft would not require a sworn statement and directs the City Clerk to keep a record of replacement ballots issued.
The draft requires ballot-return information to be checked against voter-registration records. If a voter issued a replacement returns more than one ballot envelope, the first returned would count as the official ballot and later ones would be rejected. The replacement-ballot section sets no separate request deadline; a related provision makes ballots available at the Clerk’s office from 25 days before an election through 7 p.m. on Election Day.