Proposed Procedures for the Senate District 34 Vacancy Committee Election, May 16, 2010

Proposed Election Procedures for the May 16, 2010 Vacancy Committee meeting
 
1. All nominees must meet constitutional and statutory criteria, and must provide proof reasonably acceptable to the Vacancy Committee that the qualifications are met. Satisfactory proof of qualifications shall include a copy of a candidate’s voter registration. The constitutional criteria for members of the Colorado Senate are: 1) U.S. citizenship, 2) attainment of 25 years of age at the time of the May 16, 2010, meeting, and 3) residence in Senate District 34 for at least 12 months preceding the vacancy committee meeting on May 16, 2010.  The only statutory requirement is that the candidate must be affiliated with the Democratic Party on the day of the vacancy committee meeting.
 
2. A total of 4 minutes in the aggregate will be permitted for each candidate's nominating speeches and/or any statement by the candidate.  Speaking order will be alphabetical by surname.
 
3. Announced candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who is a member of the Vacancy Committee. If a candidate’s nomination is seconded by another person, either the nominator or the seconder must be a member of the Vacancy Committee.
 
4. Following the nominations of announced candidates, nominations from the floor will be accepted.
 
5. Candidates shall be responsible for the removal or disposal of any campaign signs or literature.
 
6. The Credentials Committee will check the names and addresses of Vacancy Committee members as they arrive at the meeting against a certified list of members and their addresses provided by the Chair of the Democratic Party of Denver Central and will issue credentials to eligible members. 
 
7. Committeepersons appointed after 11:59 p.m. on April 25, 2010 are not eligible to vote and will not be counted as part of the quorum.
 
8. After nominations have been completed, registration of Vacancy Committee members will be terminated. Registration will be reopened between balloting rounds but late comers will not be able to register while a balloting round is occurring.  The Credentials Committee Chair will announce the number of qualified electors prior to a balloting round.
 
9. Only Vacancy Committee members present and credentialed at the time of voting will be eligible to vote.
 
10. Each member of the Vacancy Committee shall have only one vote, even though occupying more than one position (e.g., a person serving as a Precinct Committee Person and a Senate Central Committee District officer is entitled to one vote.)
 
11. Preprinted ballots will contain the names of all persons who have announced their candidacy in writing to the Chair of the SD34 Democratic Central Committee by noon on May 11, 2010. The order of candidates on all ballots will be alphabetical by surname. To vote for a candidate nominated from the floor, an elector must write that name on the ballot in the space provided.
 
12. Secret ballots are not allowed. A Vacancy Committee member’s printed name and signature must appear on his or her ballot. If both the printed name and signature does not appear on the ballot, it will not be counted.
 
13. The selection of Senator Sandoval’s replacement requires amajority vote of the Vacancy Committee members present and voting [C.R.S. § 1-12-203(3)], and there may be several rounds of voting. The balloting procedure will be as follows:
1) In the first round of voting, electors will vote for only one candidate
a)       If a candidate receives a majority of the votes, that person will be recognized as the winning candidate.
b)       If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, those four candidates who received the highest number of votes will proceed to the second round of voting. In the event of a tie for fourth place, all candidates tied for fourth place will proceed to the second round of voting.
2) In the second round of voting (if required), electors will vote for only one candidate.
a)       If a candidate receives a majority of the votes, that person will be recognized as the winning candidate.
b)       If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, those two candidates who received the highest number of votes will proceed to the third round of balloting. In the event of a tie for second place, all candidates tied for second place will proceed to the third round of voting.
3) In the third round of voting (if required), electors will vote for only one candidate.
a)       The candidate who receives a majority of the votes will be declared the next Senator from State Senate District 34.
b)       If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, those two candidates who received the highest number of votes will proceed to the fourth round of balloting. In the event of a tie for second place, all candidates tied for second place will proceed to the fourth round of voting.
4) In the fourth round of voting (if required), electors will vote for only one candidate.
a)       The candidate who receives a majority of the votes will be declared the next Senator from State Senate District 34.
 
14. No speeches by or on behalf of any candidate will be permitted between ballots.
 
15. Ballots will be counted by persons designated by the Chair. Each candidate will name one observer to watch the actual ballot count.
 
16. The ballots will be held and preserved by the Chair of the SD34 Democratic Central Committee for a period of 30 days after the election.
 
17. The name of the winning candidate will be certified by the Chair and the Secretary of the District to the Colorado Secretary of State. The person elected will enter upon the duties of Senator for Senate District 34 upon taking the oath of office, and will serve until the next general election.
 
18. Any procedure not provided for by this proposal shall be governed by the most current edition of Roberts Rules of Order. The replacement election and nomination procedures will comply in all other respects with applicable Colorado law and Democratic Party rules.
 
19. Subject to applicable law, the election may be contested upon compliance with the procedures set forth in C.R.S. § 1-11-208.
 

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