C.R.S. Section 1-4-801
Designation of party candidates by petition

(1)

Candidates for political party nominations to be made by primary election may be placed on the primary election ballot by petition. Every petition to nominate candidates for a primary election shall state the name of the office for which the person is a candidate and the candidate’s name and address and shall designate in not more than three words the name of the political party which the candidate represents. No petition shall contain the name of more than one person for the same office.

(2)

The signature requirements for the petition are as follows:

(a)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for any county office must be signed by electors eligible to vote within the county commissioner district or political subdivision for which the officer is to be elected. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(e) of this section, the petition requires the lesser of one thousand signers or signers equal in number to ten percent of the votes cast in the political subdivision at the contested or uncontested primary election for the political party’s candidate for the office for which the petition is being circulated or, if there was no primary election, at the last preceding general election for which there was a candidate for the office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an unaffiliated elector is not eligible to sign a petition for a candidate of a major political party.

(a.5)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for a member of the United States house of representatives, member of the state board of education for a congressional district, or member of the board of regents of the university of Colorado for a congressional district must be signed by eligible electors resident within the district for which the officer is to be elected. The petition requires the lesser of one thousand five hundred signers or signers equal in number to ten percent of the votes cast in the district at the contested or uncontested primary election for the political party’s candidate for the office for which the petition is being circulated or, if there was no primary election, at the last preceding general election for which there was a candidate for the office.

(b)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for member of the general assembly or any district office greater than a county office must be signed by eligible electors resident within the district for which the officer is to be elected. The petition requires the lesser of one thousand signers or signers equal to thirty percent of the votes cast in the district at the contested or uncontested primary election for the political party’s candidate for the office for which the petition is being circulated or, if there was no primary election, at the last preceding general election for which there was a candidate for the office.

(b.5)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for the office of district attorney must be signed by eligible electors resident within the district for which the officer is to be elected. The petition requires the lesser of one thousand signers or signers equal in number to ten percent of the votes cast in the district at the contested or uncontested primary election for the political party’s candidate for the office for which the petition is being circulated or, if there was no primary election, at the last preceding general election for which there was a candidate for the office.

(c)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Repealed.

(II)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for the office of governor or the office of United States senator must be signed by at least one thousand five hundred eligible electors in each congressional district.

(c.5)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for the office of secretary of state, attorney general, or state treasurer must be signed by at least one thousand eligible electors in each congressional district.

(c.7)

Every petition in the case of a candidate for the office of an at-large seat on either the state board of education or the board of regents of the university of Colorado must be signed by at least five hundred eligible electors in each congressional district.
(d)(Deleted by amendment, L. 93, p. 1405, § 29, effective July 1, 1993.)(e) Where the electors of the county have voted to increase the membership of the board of county commissioners from three to five pursuant to section 30-10-306.5, C.R.S., or to decrease the membership of the board from five to three pursuant to section 30-10-306.7, C.R.S., for the next two primary elections immediately following an election at which the voters have approved the change in the membership of the board, the signature requirements for the petition are as follows:

(I)

Where any one or more commissioners to be elected to the board of county commissioners will be voted on by voters of the whole county, every petition must require signers equal in number to twenty percent of the average of all votes cast in each commissioner district in the county during the prior two contested or uncontested primary elections for the political party’s candidates in each county commissioner district that held a primary election in either of those elections. If no primary election was held in either year, the calculation must be based on the most recent preceding general election for which the party had a candidate on the ballot, and every petition must require signers equal in number to twenty percent of the average of all votes cast for the political party’s candidates for commissioner in each commissioner district in which the party had a candidate on the ballot.

(II)

Where any one or more commissioners to be elected to the board of county commissioners will be voted on only by the electors residing in a particular county commissioner district, the determination of the required number of signers must begin with a calculation of the average of all votes cast in each commissioner district in the county during the prior two contested or uncontested primary elections for the political party’s candidates in the county commissioner districts that held a primary election in either of those elections. Upon a determination of the average, that number must then be divided by the total number of commissioner districts in the county where commissioners are voted on only by the electors residing in the district, whether three or five. After completing this calculation, every petition must require signers equal in number to twenty percent of the number realized. If no primary election was held in either year, the calculation must be based on the most recent preceding general election for which the party had a candidate on the ballot, and every petition must require signers equal in number to the following calculation:

(A)

Twenty percent of the average of all votes cast for the political party’s candidates for commissioner in each commissioner district in which the party had a candidate on the ballot; and

(B)

Divide the number found in sub-subparagraph (A) of this subparagraph (II) by the total number of commissioner districts in the county where commissioners are voted on only by the electors residing in the district, whether three or five.

(f)

Following the first two primary elections that are conducted after a change in the membership of the board of county commissioners pursuant to section 30-10-306.5 or 30-10-306.7, C.R.S., in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (e) of this subsection (2), the signature requirements for a petition for a county commissioner candidate who is affiliated with a major political party must follow the procedures specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2).

(3)

No person shall be placed in nomination by petition on behalf of any political party unless the person was affiliated with the political party, as shown in the statewide voter registration system, no later than the first business day of the January immediately preceding the election for which the person desires to be placed in nomination.

(4)

No person who attempted and failed to receive at least ten percent of the votes for the nomination of a political party assembly for a particular office shall be placed in nomination by petition on behalf of the political party for the same office.

(5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Party petitions shall not be circulated nor any signatures be obtained prior to the third Tuesday in January. Petitions must be filed no later than the close of business on the third Tuesday in March.

(b)

Repealed.

(6)

A candidate for a presidential primary election shall not begin circulating petitions before the first Monday in November of the year preceding the year in which the presidential primary election is held. A candidate must file a petition no later than the close of business on the eighty-fifth day before the date of the presidential primary election.

Source: Section 1-4-801 — Designation of party candidates by petition, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-01.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

1‑4‑101
Primary elections - when - nominations - expenses 1‑4‑102
Methods of placing names on primary ballot 1‑4‑103
Order of names on primary ballot 1‑4‑104
Party nominees 1‑4‑104.5
Primary election canceled - when 1‑4‑105
Defeated candidate ineligible 1‑4‑201
Time of holding general election 1‑4‑202
United States senators 1‑4‑203
Representatives in congress 1‑4‑204
State and district officers 1‑4‑205
County commissioners 1‑4‑206
Other county officers 1‑4‑301
Time of holding presidential elections 1‑4‑302
Party nominations to be made by convention 1‑4‑304
Presidential electors 1‑4‑305
Compensation 1‑4‑401
Time of congressional vacancy elections 1‑4‑401.5
Special congressional vacancy election - continuity in representation - rules 1‑4‑402
Nominations of political party candidates 1‑4‑403
Nomination of unaffiliated candidates for congressional vacancy election 1‑4‑404
Nomination and acceptance of candidate 1‑4‑501
Only eligible electors eligible for office 1‑4‑502
Methods of nomination for partisan candidates 1‑4‑503
Method of nomination for nonpartisan candidates 1‑4‑504
Documents are public records 1‑4‑601
Designation of candidates for primary election - definition 1‑4‑602
Delegates to party assemblies - definition 1‑4‑603
Designation of major political party candidates by petition 1‑4‑604
Filing of petitions and certificates of designation by assembly - legislative declaration 1‑4‑605
Order of names on primary ballot 1‑4‑701
Party nominations to be made by convention 1‑4‑702
Nominations of candidates for general election by convention 1‑4‑801
Designation of party candidates by petition 1‑4‑802
Petitions for nominating minor political party and unaffiliated candidates for a partisan office 1‑4‑803
Petitions for nominating school district directors 1‑4‑805
Petitions for nominating municipal candidates in coordinated elections 1‑4‑806
Preregistrants eligible to sign petitions 1‑4‑901
Designation of petition 1‑4‑902
Form of petition 1‑4‑903
Approval of petition 1‑4‑904
Signatures on the petitions 1‑4‑905
Circulators - requirements - affidavits - notarization - training 1‑4‑905.5
Petition entities - requirements - violations - definitions 1‑4‑906
Candidate’s acceptance 1‑4‑907
Filing of petition 1‑4‑908
Review of petition - signature verification - notification - cure - rules 1‑4‑909
Protest of designations and nominations 1‑4‑911
Review of a protest 1‑4‑912
Cure - rules 1‑4‑1001
Withdrawal or disqualification from candidacy 1‑4‑1002
Vacancies in major party designation up to the sixty-eighth day before primary election day 1‑4‑1003
Vacancies in major party designation occurring between the sixty-seventh day before a primary election and the earliest day to mail primary election ballots 1‑4‑1004
Vacancies in major party designation occurring from the day after the earliest day to mail primary election ballots through primary election day 1‑4‑1005
Vacancies in major party nomination occurring from the day after primary election day through the earliest day to mail general election ballots 1‑4‑1006
Vacancies in major party nomination occurring from the day after the earliest day to mail general election ballots through general election day 1‑4‑1007
Vacancies in minor party designation or nomination 1‑4‑1008
Vacancies in unaffiliated designation or nomination 1‑4‑1009
Vacancies in school district director nomination 1‑4‑1010
Vacancies in office occurring from the sixty-eighth day prior to primary election day through the earliest day to mail general election ballots 1‑4‑1011
Vacancies of joint gubernatorial candidates - process for filling vacancy in nomination for office of lieutenant governor 1‑4‑1012
Remote participation in vacancy committee meetings 1‑4‑1101
Write-in candidate affidavit of intent 1‑4‑1102
Time of filing affidavit 1‑4‑1103
Write-in votes for governor, president 1‑4‑1201
Declaration 1‑4‑1202
Definitions 1‑4‑1203
Presidential primary elections - when - conduct 1‑4‑1204
Names on ballots 1‑4‑1205
Write-in candidate affidavit for presidential primary 1‑4‑1206
Presidential primary ballots - survey of returns 1‑4‑1207
Election results - certification - pledging of delegates 1‑4‑1301
Formation of minor political party 1‑4‑1302
Petition to qualify as a minor political party 1‑4‑1303
Qualifications to nominate by constitution or bylaws 1‑4‑1304
Nomination of candidates 1‑4‑1305
Disqualification of minor political party 1‑4‑1401
Legislative declaration 1‑4‑1402
Applicability of part 1‑4‑1403
Referral of question in single-county judicial districts 1‑4‑1404
Referral of question in multiple-county judicial districts 1‑4‑1405
Coordinated or general election ballot 1‑4‑1406
County clerk and recorder designated election official - certification of results to secretary of state 1‑4‑1407
Initiative - petition 1‑4‑1408
Prior actions not affected
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 1-4-801’s source at colorado​.gov