Gigi Dennis
Secretary of State

 STATE OF COLORADO
 Department of State
 1700 Broadway
 Suite 250
 Denver, CO  80290

William A. Hobbs
Deputy Secretary of State

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

Pursuant to the requirements of section 24-4-103 (3)(a), C.R.S. (2005), notice of proposed rulemaking is hereby given by the Secretary of State. A rulemaking hearing will be held on October 4, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Blue Spruce Conference Room on the second floor of the Office of the Secretary of State at 1700 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80290.  All interested persons will be afforded an opportunity to be heard on the subject of revisions and amendments to the “Election Rules” of the Colorado Secretary of State, 8 C.C.R. 1505-1.

Subject of the Proposed Rulemaking

Amendments and revisions to the Colorado Secretary of State Election Rules are proposed to clarify and conform to statutory changes made by the Colorado General Assembly and to make such other amendments to the election rules as may be desirable to improve the administration of elections is Colorado.  The revisions and amendments to be considered include electronic ballot transmission, and such other rule amendments as may be necessary to answer questions arising under Title 1 of the Colorado Revised Statutes.  

Authority for Proposed Rulemaking

Revisions and amendments to the “Election Rules” of the Colorado Secretary of State, 8 C.C.R. 1505-1, are proposed pursuant to the following statutes:

1. Section 1-1-107(2)(a), C.R.S. (2005), which authorizes the Secretary of State “[t]o promulgate, publish and distribute . . . such rules as the secretary finds necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of the election laws . . . .”

2. Section 1-1.5-104(1)(e), C.R.S., (2005), which authorizes the Secretary of State to “[p]romulgate rules . . . as the secretary finds necessary for proper administration and implementation of [the “Help America Vote Act of 2002”, P.L. No. 107-252].”

Copies of the proposed rules may be obtained from the office of the Secretary of State at 1700 Broadway, suite 270, Denver, Colorado 80290, or by calling (303) 894-2200, ext 6306.  An initial copy will be provided free of charge.  The proposed rules will also be posted on the Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.co.us.

The hearing will be held in accordance with section 24-4-103, C.R.S. (2005).  Written and oral data, comments, and arguments will be received from all interested parties.  Written submissions must be filed at or before the commencement of the hearing October 4, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. in order to be considered.  Oral testimony may be limited in order to allow the proceedings to go forward with reasonable promptness and efficiency.  The hearing will be audio recorded and broadcast over the Internet.  The broadcast may be accessed through the Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.co.us on the “Information Center” page under “Broadcast and Recorded Meetings.”  For additional information, please contact Christi Heppard, Elections Division at Christi.heppard@sos.state.co.us or (303) 894-2200 ext. 6306. 

	Dated this 18th Day of August, 2006.

								
													     /s/ Ginette Dennis    		
Ginette Dennis
Colorado Secretary of State