C.R.S. Section 31-12-112
Election

  • annexation pursuant to election

(1)

If the governing body determines that an annexation election is required under the provisions of section 30 (1)(a) of article II of the state constitution and section 31-12-107 (2) or that additional terms and conditions should be imposed upon the area proposed to be annexed, an election shall be called, as provided in this section, to determine whether a majority of the landowners and the registered electors in the area proposed to be annexed approve such annexation, with such terms and conditions, if any, as may attach thereto.

(2)

Any landowner owning land in the area proposed to be annexed may vote, irrespective of whether he or she is a registered elector. Any corporate landowner may by resolution designate one of its officers to cast its vote; except that nothing in this part 1 shall invalidate any memorandum of agreement or escrow arrangement voluntarily made by and between the annexing municipality and one or more landowners within the area proposed to be annexed nor require an election for the approval of any terms and conditions to be accomplished or assured in this manner.

(3)

The municipality shall forthwith petition the district court of the county in which the area proposed to be annexed or a part thereof is located to hold such election.

(4)

Upon receipt of such petition, the court shall appoint three commissioners, one of whom shall be nominated by the municipality, one of whom shall be a landowner of land in the area proposed to be annexed or such landowner’s nominee, and the third shall be acceptable to the other two. All of the commissioners shall be residents of the state of Colorado and willing to serve as such commissioners. The appointees, within three days after the date of their appointment, shall take an oath before the court faithfully to perform their duties. In case of disability or failure of any commissioner to act, the court shall forthwith fill his place with some person competent, willing, and able to act.

(5)

Such commissioners shall forthwith call an election of all the landowners and the registered electors in the area proposed to be annexed, to be held at some convenient place within the area proposed to be annexed. The commissioners shall establish such polling places within the area proposed to be annexed, or immediately adjacent thereto if such area is vacant and unoccupied, as in their judgment are necessary to afford all of the landowners and the registered electors the opportunity to cast their votes. If more than one polling place is found to be necessary, the court may appoint three additional persons to act as judges or clerks for each additional polling place. Such additional judges and clerks shall meet the same requirements as the original appointees.

(6)

Notice of such election shall be given by publication once a week for four weeks in some newspaper of general circulation in the area and published in the county in which such area is located or, if there is no such newspaper in the county, in some newspaper of general circulation published in an adjacent county. Additional notice shall be given by posting a notice at each polling place. The said posting and first newspaper publication shall be not less than four weeks preceding such election. Such notice shall specify the time and place of such election, shall contain a description of the boundaries of the area proposed to be annexed, and shall state that a map or plat thereof is on file in the office of the clerk of the district court in which such area, or a part thereof, is located. Such notice shall also set forth the conditions and requirements proposed by the governing body for annexation of the area, and it shall inform the public that an issue committee is required by law to register with the appropriate officer pursuant to section 1-45-108, C.R.S., within ten calendar days of accepting or making contributions or expenditures in excess of two hundred dollars to support or oppose the annexation question.

(7)

Such commissioners and additional appointees provided for in subsection (5) of this section shall act as judges or clerks of the election, shall take the oath required by law for judges of general elections, and shall report the result of the voting in their respective polling places to the court within three days after such election. The court shall allow each judge and clerk a reasonable compensation for his services as such, not exceeding two dollars for each hour necessarily employed in the performance of his duties.

(8)

The ballot used in such election shall contain the words “For Annexation” and “Against Annexation”. At the time of voting, each voter shall indicate his choice by placing a cross mark (X) opposite one or the other of said groups of words. Voting machines may be used in the same manner as in municipal elections.

(9)

If a majority of the votes cast at such election are against annexation or the vote is tied, the court shall order that all annexation proceedings to date are void and of no effect and that the governing body shall proceed no further with the instant annexation proceedings. If a majority of the votes cast at the election are for annexation, the court shall order, adjudge, and decree that such area may be annexed to the municipality upon the terms and conditions, if any, set forth by the governing body, and the municipality, by ordinance, may thereafter annex said area and impose the terms and conditions, if any, as approved by the landowners and the registered electors.

(10)

All costs and expenses connected with such annexation election, including commissioner fees and all election expenses when incurred, shall be paid by the municipality to which the annexation is proposed.

Source: Section 31-12-112 — Election - annexation pursuant to election, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-31.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

31‑12‑101
Short title
31‑12‑102
Legislative declaration
31‑12‑103
Definitions
31‑12‑104
Eligibility for annexation
31‑12‑105
Limitations
31‑12‑106
Annexation of enclaves, partly surrounded land, and municipally owned land
31‑12‑107
Petitions for annexation and for annexation elections
31‑12‑108
Setting hearing date - notice given
31‑12‑108.5
Annexation impact report - requirements
31‑12‑109
Hearing
31‑12‑110
Findings
31‑12‑111
Annexation without election
31‑12‑112
Election - annexation pursuant to election
31‑12‑113
Effective date of annexation - required filings
31‑12‑114
Conflicting annexation claims of two or more municipalities
31‑12‑115
Zoning of land while annexation is under way - zoning of newly annexed land - subdivision of land while annexation is under way - regulatory impairments affecting newly annexed land used for agricultural purposes - notice - definitions
31‑12‑116
Review
31‑12‑117
Effect of review and of voiding of annexation ordinance by court order
31‑12‑118
Priority of annexation proceedings
31‑12‑118.5
Effect of incorporation proceedings in an area of more than seventy-five thousand inhabitants - annexation ordinance - legislative declaration
31‑12‑119
Disconnection of territory because of failure to serve
31‑12‑120
Court approval required for certain annexations
31‑12‑121
Provision of municipal services to outside consumers - agreement to annex
31‑12‑122
Relation of this part 1 to other laws
31‑12‑123
Applicability to city and county of Denver
31‑12‑201
Including adjacent area upon reorganization
31‑12‑301
Annexation to charter city
31‑12‑302
Petition - order of court
31‑12‑303
Annexation consented to by ordinance - indebtedness
31‑12‑304
School districts - annexation of area to another school district - applicability
31‑12‑305
Question submitted to registered electors
31‑12‑306
Notice of election
31‑12‑307
Ballots
31‑12‑308
Report - approval by court
31‑12‑309
Termination of offices
31‑12‑310
Rights become property of city enlarged - utilities not curtailed
31‑12‑311
Validity not questioned after ninety days
31‑12‑401
Consolidation of contiguous cities or towns
31‑12‑402
Election - notice - ballot
31‑12‑403
Election of officers after consolidation
31‑12‑404
Tenure of officers
31‑12‑405
Consolidation complete
31‑12‑406
First ordinances - appropriation
31‑12‑407
Licenses
31‑12‑408
Bonded and floating indebtedness
31‑12‑409
Property belongs to consolidated cities or towns
31‑12‑410
Suits - special tax
31‑12‑411
Collection of prior taxes - disposition
31‑12‑412
Annexing cities and towns
31‑12‑413
Annexation complete - rights - liabilities
31‑12‑414
School districts - annexation of area to another school district - applicability
31‑12‑501
Application - enactment - filing - definitions
31‑12‑502
Liability for taxes
31‑12‑503
Future levies - prepayment
31‑12‑601
Petition to disconnect territory
31‑12‑602
Contents of petition
31‑12‑603
Hearing - decree - proviso
31‑12‑604
Lands subject to tax for prior indebtedness
31‑12‑605
Copy of decree filed
31‑12‑701
Part 7 relates to towns only
31‑12‑702
Petition court to disconnect from town
31‑12‑703
Petition - contents
31‑12‑704
Hearing - decree - proviso
31‑12‑705
Land not exempt from prior taxes
31‑12‑706
Land subject to tax for prior indebtedness
31‑12‑707
Decree recorded - proof
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 31-12-112’s source at colorado​.gov