This past legislative session has been dubbed the “most liberal ever” by journalists, but it may need a second moniker – the “sloppiest ever.”
Poorly written election law in a party line bill passed by Democrats forced a judge last night to cut off mail ballots in the recall elections of Senators John Morse and Angela Giron.
Reports The Colorado Observer‘s Leslie Jorgensen:
DENVER – District Judge Robert McGahey threw a wrench in the recall elections of Democrats Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo – ruling that Colorado’s election reform law is “flawed” because it conflicts with the state constitution.
McGahey ruled Monday in favor of a Libertarian Party challenge asserting candidates had been denied access to the recall ballot in violation of the state constitution.
The constitution grants 15 days for candidates to gather petition signatures from eligible voters – and that conflicts with House Bill 1303, a controversial elections law rewrite sponsored earlier this year by Giron and Democrat Reps. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Longmont and Dan Pabon of Denver. Morse had signed on as a co-sponsor…
McGahey’s ruling could disenfranchise an estimated 900 military members serving overseas who are eligible to vote in the recall elections of Giron in Senate District 3 and Morse in Senate District 11.
Sloppy legislation seems like a hallmark of the 2013 session. Not only is HB1303 already causing problems but the controversial mag ban needed a signing statement and a back room deal just to clarify what lawmakers meant when they wrote the bill.
Ironically, HB1303 – which Giron sponsored and Morse co-sponsored – could end up spelling doom for their recall races. Without mail ballots, turnout is expected to plummet. For perspective on what it will mean, consider that 88% of voters in Colorado voted by mail in 2012.
A special election on guns in early September of an off-year in Colorado Springs and Pueblo where voters have to show up at polling locations is pretty much the exact opposite of a friendly electorate to Morse and Giron.
We guess Senator Owen Hill was rather prescient when he called 1303 “horsesh*t” during the floor debate. Now we’re just stepping in it.
This is a huge victory. They can't win at the polls. 1st. They are too lazy to get out of the house. And since the election is not onthe first of the month they won't. 2nd. This keeps Ortiz from filling out the blank ballots that get returned.
88% of voters mailed in ballots in the last election & too many democrats were elected! Do you really think that all of those lazy asses that voted democrat are going to get off of their porch and go to the polls? Even if a libertarian now gets on the ballet, it is still a loss for Giron and a vote for a YES on recall! Every election, you should have to make the effort to go vote, and I would bet less democrats would get elected. This mail in ballot should only be used for military.
actually I wanted to show up @ polling station, I'll be there for sure, Rivera all the way!
So it again would come to the Lesser of 2 evils although I must admit that if it was so close and Hillary was running against the Republican Candidate I would be forced to vote for the Lesser of 2 evils as she is far too evil as evil as Obama
Also,
So those who are being recalled created the new law which directly conflicts with State Constitution… and they wonder why they're being recalled for ignoring the Constitutions… lol.
We all have our ideologies when as a Libertarian I find myself not approving the Republican Candidate it would be foolish of myself to not vote who I really support rather than the lesser of 2 evils. Or the Republican Party should be blamed for running someone that cannot be embraced by Conservatives. Example would be Christie for President there is no way in Hell that I would want that man in office but I live in Hawaii so my vote has no pull on the outcome anyways
So some here seem to be saying it's ok to ignore the State Constitution as long as it benefits them. How does that make you any better then them and their ignoring State and Federal Constitutions to benefit their party politics..
I knew this was going to get interesting. I guess we'll get to vote in the polls after all!
Morse and Giron should be estactic now that Military Members will be aced out of voting. Way to go Libertarians…. You guys BOTCHED the first election that actually put MORSE in the State Senate. And NOW you're stupidity is going to botch this election as well…… Morons…..
sloppy is as sloppy does… and we can all still smell horsesh*t…. Blow the grabbers out! Recall Morse and Giron!