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2022 Colorado Code
Title 1 - Elections
Article 13 - Election Offenses
Part 7 - Offenses - Conduct of Elections
§ 1-13-716. Destroying, Removing, or Delaying Delivery of Election Records

Universal Citation:
CO Code § 1-13-716 (2022)
Learn more This media-neutral citation is based on the American Association of Law Libraries Universal Citation Guide and is not necessarily the official citation.

(1) No person shall willfully destroy, deface, or alter any ballot or any election records or willfully delay the delivery of any such ballots or election records, or take, carry away, conceal, or remove any ballot, ballot box, or election records from the polling location or drop-off location or from the possession of a person authorized by law to have the custody thereof, or aid, counsel, procure, advise, or assist any person to do any of the aforesaid acts.

(2) No election official who has undertaken to deliver the official ballots and election records to the county clerk and recorder shall neglect or refuse to do so within the time prescribed by law or shall fail to account fully for all official ballots and other records in his charge. Informality in the delivery of the ballots and election records shall not invalidate the vote of any precinct if such records are delivered prior to the canvassing of the votes by the county board of canvassers.

(3) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class 1 misdemeanor.

Source: L. 80: Entire article R&RE, p. 435, § 1, effective January 1, 1981. L. 2013: (1) amended, (HB 13-1303), ch. 185, p. 749, § 123, effective May 10. L. 2021: (3) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3130, § 38, effective March 1, 2022.

Editor's note: (1) The provisions of this section are similar to provisions of several former sections as they existed prior to 1980. For a detailed comparison, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.

(2) Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.

Cross references: In 2013, subsection (1) was amended by the "Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act". For the short title and the legislative declaration, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 185, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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