<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"> <style></style> </head> <body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"> <div class="WordSection1"> Yesterday, Governor Polis signed Executive Order D 2020 065 Ordering the Temporary Suspension of Certain Regulatory Statutes Concerning Signature Collection for Ballot Issues and Authorizing the Secretary of State to Create Temporary Rules for Registered Electors To Receive and Return Issue Petitions Over Mail and Email Due to the Presence of COVID-19.  The Executive Order suspends provisions of C.R.S. Title 1, Article 40 relating to elections.  Because of the short time until the city’s deadline and the substantial public interest in this matter, I wanted to provide my initial thoughts with respect to the effect of the Governor’s order.  Our full team has not had the chance to review these thoughts, so please take them as preliminary in nature and subject to revision. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Title 1, Article 40 includes section 1-40-103 which states as follows:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “(1)  This article shall apply to all state ballot issues that are authorized by the state constitution unless otherwise provided by statute, charter, or ordinance.<o:p></o:p> (2)  The laws pertaining to municipal initiatives, referenda, and referred measures are governed by the provisions of article 11 of title 31, C.R.S..”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Governor’s order suspends the sections of title 1, article 40 requiring signing in person.  To the extent that there was any question about this requirement in Boulder, the Governor’s order removed that question.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Title 31, article 11 includes section 31-11-102 which provides as follows:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “This article shall apply to municipal initiatives, referenda, and referred measures unless alternative procedures are provided by charter, ordinance, or resolution.” (emphasis added).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Last year as part of an overall revision of the city’s election code, council passed Ordinance 8317 which including the following section 13-1-4:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “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.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The only provisions of title 31, article 11 that apply in Boulder are the criminal provisions relating to fraud or deception.  None of these provisions require in person signatures.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Charter amendments are governed by C.R.S. title 31, article 2.  This article was adopted pursuant to Article XX, Section 9 of the Colorado Constitution.  This section provides that the electors of home rule cities have “the power to adopt, amend and repeal a home rule charter.”  It also provides the legislature the authority to adopt procedures for adoption, amendment and repeal of home rule charters.  On matters of local concern, a city’s regulation controls over a state regulation.  McCarville v. City of Colo. Springs, 2013 COA 169, ś 8, 338 P.3d 1033, 1035.  Even in matters of statewide concern, a city can regulate as long as there is no conflict.  Section 31-2-220 requires that petitions to amend a home rule charter must be signed in the presence of the circulator.  To support online petitioning, we have asserted that the method of signing is a matter of local concern and therefore that the city has the authority to allow remote signing.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Governor’s order directed the Secretary of State to adopt procedures for the acceptance of mail or email signatures.  Under my reading of the law, for those procedures to apply in Boulder, council would need to adopt them.  Council has the full authority to do so.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tom Carr<o:p></o:p> Boulder City Attorney<o:p></o:p> (303) 441-3020<o:p></o:p> (pronouns: He/Him/His) <a href="https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why">What's This?</a><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>